Linklaters has grown its Paris arm with the hire of capital markets partner Patrice Doat from Gide Loyrette Nouel, marking the first lateral hire for the office in four years.

Doat is set to join the firm with three associates on 1 September. He has been at the French outfit since 1994 and a partner since 2004.

He marks the sixth partner in Linklaters' Paris capital markets team and the first partner dedicated to securitisation work.

Doat specialises in structured finance and securitisation, and acts for both US and European investment banks.

Linklaters Paris managing partner Paul Lignieres said: "We wanted to find a new structured finance specialist to grow the practice both in France and internationally and Patrice wanted to develop his practice. It is an excellent opportunity that will give us an advantage in the market with someone dedicated to securitisation work and it is important for us to enforce this area.

"This hire is a one-off as we tend towards growing internally; however, if another opportunity were to present itself we would of course consider it."

The magic circle firm has not made any lateral hires in its French arm since Gide litigation partner Kiril Bougartchev joined in 2007.

The news follows the departure of two local partners from the Moroccan offices of Gide to staff Allen & Overy's new Casablanca base announced in July this year.