Maclay Murray & Spens has strengthened its London corporate practice with a partner hire from Pinsent Masons.

Darius Lewington joined the firm last month after nine years at Pinsents, where he worked on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions including M&A, IPOs and secondary fund raisings, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations.

Separately the firm has also hired Mills & Reeve associate Ian Benson as a legal director in its London financial services practice.

Lewington said: "Maclay Murray & Spens has big ambitions to build up its London corporate practice and I'm pleased to be a part of it. My practice is very international-facing so hopefully I will be able to add to the firm on that front too."

Maclays chief executive Chris Smylie commented: "These appointments reflect our continuing commitment to the growth of both our London office and UK-wide corporate and financial services practices. The caliber of these lateral hires is a clear signal of our ambition to extend our reach in these sectors."

News of Lewington's departure comes as Pinsents has been bulking up a number of practices.

Last month the firm hired EDF's head of legal for nuclear, Chris White, as co-head of its international nuclear practice.

It also strengthened its City sports practice with the hire of a four-lawyer team from Clarke Willmott led by partner Trevor Watkins.

Watkins is set to join the UK top 20 firm next month as head of its sports group, bringing with him a team of one senior associate and two solicitors.