Bird & Bird is set to target standalone UK tax advisory work after sealing the hire of a second City tax specialist.

The law firm has recruited LG partner Julian Hickey to practise alongside UK tax head Mathew Oliver – currently the firm's only dedicated London partner in the practice area.

Oliver said the hire would help the top 20 firm to better cover its existing internal workload, but will also mean it can target standalone tax advisory work for the first time.