Herbert Smith has strengthened its London debt capital markets (DCM) team with the hire of ex-Linklaters partner Andrew Roberts.

Roberts, who began his career as a solicitor at New Zealand firm Bell Gully, was a partner with Linklaters for 19 years until 2010, when he left to become an in-house counsel at energy company Fontenergy.

He joined Linklaters in 1986, becoming the firm's first Asia managing partner in 2000. During his time at the magic circle firm he also spearheaded the development of Linklaters' Middle Eastern practice.

Roberts' practice focuses on international capital markets and company law, and he has acted for corporate clients, investment banks and funds, with an emphasis on the emerging markets.

Herbert Smith global finance head Malcolm Hitching said: "The plan is for Andrew, with his broad experience, to come in and pull the DCM practice together. DCM is a very important market at the moment in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The bank lending market is not what it used to be, with big ticket corporates increasingly looking to the debt markets for their funding requirements."

Hitching added: "Andrew wanted to join us because he was excited by the challenge. We have a fantastic brand and client base and with his experience and reputation in the market it was an opportunity too good to miss."

The hire comes after Herbert Smith added another banking lawyer from Linklaters to its partnership earlier this month, when Linklaters senior associate Will Nevin joined its lending and acquisition finance practice as a partner.