Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has hired former CMS Cameron McKenna partner Peter Hill in a bid to strengthen its corporate insurance offering.

Hill, who left the UK top 15 firm at the end of April, had been a partner at Camerons since 2007 after joining from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, where he had been a partner for ten years.

Hill, who has joined RPC as a consultant, is a corporate finance lawyer with 30 years of experience in the insurance sector. He recently acted for insurance broker Heath Lambert on its £97m sale to Arthur J Gallagher & Co.

RPC corporate head Tim Anderson said: "Peter's arrival adds further depth and breadth to our corporate and corporate insurance offering. Our corporate insurance team has a growing reputation for advising on corporate transactions within the insurance industry, which makes Peter the perfect fit."

The most recent major hire for RPC was that of former Barlow Lyde & Gilbert chief executive Clint Evans earlier this month. Evans is joining to lead the firm's business development department, taking the title of director of brand and talent.

The news comes after Camerons saw 11 partners leave the firm at the end of April, also including head of real estate disputes Caroline DeLaney, who left after dropping a claim against the firm for sexual discrimination.

Meanwhile, Penningtons has confirmed that legacy firm Dawsons – which merged into Penningtons earlier this month – sued DeLaney in March this year for £93,570 in unpaid fees after representing her in the case against Camerons.

The firm said in a statement: "We can confirm that Dawsons unfortunately had to issue proceedings against Caroline DeLaney in March 2011 to recover unpaid fees. Ms DeLaney has subsequently applied for a detailed assessment of those fees. Following a hearing on 24 May 2011, the matter is currently proceeding as an assessment of costs conditional upon Ms DeLaney making a substantial interim payment.

"As the matter is currently before the court we are unable to make a more detailed comment at this stage. We hope that it can be brought to an early resolution in the interests of all concerned."

Camerons confirmed in a statement that DeLaney left the firm in April and said that it is not in a dispute with her.