DLA Piper is strengthening its City insurance and reinsurance team with a partner hire from CMS Cameron McKenna.

Andrew Symons is set to join DLA's litigation and regulation group after 16 years at CMS.

Symons specialises in reinsurance disputes work as well as direct insurance matters, and he has worked with clients including banks and financial institutions, marine, energy and property businesses.

The hire will help DLA's insurance and reinsurance group expand its financial institutions client base. It comes after the firm last month announced the hire of a three-partner financial litigation team from LG comprising Jeremy Andrews, Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry and James Curle.

Stephen Sly, DLA's international group head of litigation and regulatory told Legal Week: "It's part of our continuing push to grow in the top end of the market. He has a broad range of expertise but he will form part of our focus on the financial institutions insurance sector, which is very hot at the moment."

Sly added: "We are very busy at the moment, seeing a lot of activity. We look forward to having both Andrew and the team from LG join the firm so we can be well positioned to take advantage of the growing international market."

The hire comes as DLA prepares to consult with partners on proposals to move to an all-equity partnership across its offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Partners are expected to vote on the plans early in 2012, with any changes likely to take place from 1 May next year.