Taylor Wessing has strengthened its City finance team with the hire of a partner from Dundas & Wilson.

London-based corporate banking partner Ross Caldwell is set to join Taylor Wessing early next year, after serving a period of gardening leave at his current firm.

Caldwell specialises in oil and gas and investment funds finance as well as acquisition and leveraged finance and derivatives work. He joined the Scottish law firm's Edinburgh office in 1999, where he made partner in 2007, the same year that he relocated to London.

Taylor Wessing London finance group head Rodney Dukes commented: "We already have a leading real estate finance practice and the addition of Ross to the team will enhance our offering in the finance market further, while also bringing additional focused finance expertise to the firm."

Caldwell added: "After 12 years at Dundas & Wilson it is time for a new challenge. Taylor Wessing has a mature and developed City platform as well as an exciting international strategy. The firm has serious ambitions that I'm looking forward to being a part of."

The news comes after Dundas ended merger discussions with City firm Bircham Dyson Bell last week. The firms have concluded exploratory discussions about a tie-up after mutually coming to a decision not to seek partner approval for a potential merger.