Clifford Chance (CC) has moved to boost its regulatory team with the hire of a partner from Morgan Stanley.

The firm has recruited Monica Sah, who is currently managing director and head of international wealth management legal for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Sah is joining CC's financial markets and regulatory practice as a partner, having spent seven years at the firm as an associate before joining Morgan Stanley in 2004. She will be CC's sixth regulatory partner in London.

The hire comes after CC ramped up its regulatory efforts earlier this year with the launch of its 'Sea of Change' programme, which has seen all client relationship partners trained to provide regulatory advice.

CC head of financial markets and regulatory Chris Bates said that Sah would add another level of service to clients based on her experience from working in-house at a major bank.

He commented: "Monica is an important addition to our senior advisory resources and she will be able to turn to the advantage of our clients her experience as a senior lawyer in a leading financial institution."

"This addition to our team is very timely. The significant number of current and impending major regulatory developments means that our clients are facing an unprecedented sea of change."

The addition of Sah marks the first dedicated regulatory partner hire for CC since that of Simon Gleeson, who joined from A&O in 2007. The firm also made up a London partner into the group in 2009 when Simon Crown was promoted from the associate ranks.

Sah added: "I have enjoyed my time at Morgan Stanley immensely and am sorry to be leaving. CC has an unrivalled reputation in the area of financial regulation, both in the UK and internationally. I look forward to rejoining that team and to helping clients deal with the impending demands of regulatory change."