Clifford Chance (CC) has added a partner to its City funds capability with the hire of international counsel Gerard Saviola from the London office of US firm Debevoise & Plimpton.

Saviola, who will join CC as a partner in the firm's private funds group, is US-qualified and advises mainly leveraged buyout funds, emerging markets funds and mezzanine funds, as well as a broad range of institutional investors in international investment funds and private equity acquisitions.

During his 12 years at Debevoise, he has advised clients including Barings Bank, Park Square, Morgan Stanley and Sun Apollo. ‪

London funds chief Nigel Hatfield commented: "[Saviola's] expertise, which combines a focus on private funds with great international experience, mixed with his collegiate approach to work means he is an excellent fit for our group, both culturally and professionally."

London corporate head Simon Tinkler added: ""After the departures, we soon agreed that we were not interested in taking another team. Nigel [Hatfield] is very much the head of our London funds practice around whom we will build the team, and Gerard fits in very well both culturally and in terms of client exposure.

"He also has significant relationships in Hong Kong, which will contribute to our efforts to build out our Asian practice."

The hire comes three months after the departure of a four-partner funds team to US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges. The team comprised funds partners Ed Gander, Nigel Clark and Nick Benson, as well as tax partner Jonathan Kandel, who worked closely with the funds team.

Shortly afterwards, the US firm also secured the hire of senior associates Stephen Fox and David Irvine to join the funds team.

Last year CC lost its head of private funds Jason Glover to US firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Glover joined the firm this January to establish a UK funds practice.