Bird & Bird is relaunching its dedicated trade and customs practice with the hire of a partner from Steptoe & Johnson in London.

The firm brought in Iain MacVay earlier this week (4 July), with the hire making MacVay the sole partner dedicated to the practice, following the departure of Amsterdam-based trade and customs partner Jasper Helder last year.

MacVay, who will sit within Bird & Bird's wider EU and competition group, will split his time between London 
and Brussels.

His practice focuses on European and international trade and regulatory law and he has particular experience dealing with legal matters around the World 
Trade Organization.

Bird & Bird said the relaunch came in response to demand for trade and customs advice from clients in the aviation sector as well as electronics groups.

Bird & Bird head of EU and competition Jose Rivas said: "Our clients face cross-border trade issues worldwide. We are very proud to have hired someone with Iain's immense experience and huge reputation in this area."

Helder, who was based in Amsterdam, left Bird & Bird in April last year along with a three-lawyer team 
of associates to join Baker 
& McKenzie.

Last month Bird & Bird hired LG tax partner Julian Hickey, while May saw finance partner Charles Proctor leave for US law firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge.