SNR Denton has added a partner to its London office with the hire of Linklaters counsel Mark Cheney.

The energy-focused project finance lawyer, who trained and qualified at Linklaters before reaching the rank of counsel, joins SNR Denton's partnership in the firm's energy, transport and infrastructure team.

The practice, which is led in London by energy partner Christopher McGee-Osborne, has around 40 partners, including 10 who specialise in energy project finance and development. The group acts for key energy clients including EDF, Total and RWE and, on the financing side, banking clients such as RBS and Lloyds.

McGee-Osborne said the firm is planning to grow the practice further and that it will also look at making further partner hires.

Commenting on how the firm attracted the magic circle lawyer, he said: "Obviously we are a firm who takes what he does very seriously, while it is quite commonly accepted that Linklaters does not make up many partners in that area.

"For us, he will be another partner in the energy team who will add weight and experience and hopefully also some client relationships."

SNR Denton recently lost two energy partners when its joint London heads of climate change, renewables and cleantech, Matt Bonass and Michael Rudd, left for Bird & Bird in March this year.

The firm has seen the resignation of a number of City partners in recent months, including advocacy chief Rory McAlpine and banking partners Michael Black, Chris Borg and James Linforth, who are joining Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Norton Rose, Reed Smith and Stephenson Harwood respectively.