Eversheds and Pinsent Masons have both appointed new energy-related practice group heads, with the latter recruiting a partner from EDF Energy.

Pinsents has hired EDF's nuclear legal head Chris White as co-head of the firm's international nuclear practice. He will lead the team alongside current head Paul Rice.

White, who will join the firm on 10 October, will oversee nuclear new build, decommissioning and nuclear fuel projects and mandates in the UK, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Before joining EDF, he worked as group counsel at uranium manufacturer Urenco.

Rice commented: "We can see that international nuclear new build work is not going to stop any time soon and government procurement and nuclear decommissioning work is also strong in this sector. We just need more people.

"Chris has a huge amount of experience and can help share the burden. We have been looking for someone like him for some time now and we will continue to look to recruit in this area."

Separately, Eversheds has appointed litigation partner David Sellers as its new head of oil and gas.

Sellers, who is based in Paris, specialises in upstream and downstream oil and gas work and energy projects, and advises governments, major oil companies and other multinationals.

He replaces Stephen Mackin, who is stepping down from the role to focus on continuing to build the firm's international shipping and commodity trade practice.

Eversheds energy and natural resources head Paul Wooton said: "The growth of the work in the energy and natural resources space is in no small part down to Stephen's commitment to developing the strength and reputation of our oil and gas group over the past four years. David will have a hard act to follow."