Eversheds has strengthened its London M&A practice with a partner hire from Hogan Lovells.

Richard Lewis, who has spent 10 years as a partner at the firm after joining legacy Lovells in 2001 from Clifford Chance, where he was a senior assistant, will move to Eversheds this December.

He specialises in corporate finance, domestic and cross-border M&A, takeovers, demergers, joint ventures, and has worked with a broad range of clients including international banks, insurers, pharma companies, automotive and consumer goods manufacturers.

Recent deals he has been involved in include advising US drug company Merck & Co on its 2009 acquisition of Tees Valley-based Avecia Biologics, while he also worked with ING Continental Europe Holdings on the sale of its non-state pension fund in Russia to Aviviva in the same year.

Eversheds company commercial head Keith Froud commented: "Richard is a senior partner with some very impressive credentials – just the kind of guy we want to help drive the business. We see M&A as a strategic priority for the firm in London and internationally."

The news comes after Eversheds boosted its City contentious regulatory practice last month (3 October) with the hire of Financial Service Authority enforcement and financial crime division investigator Greg Brandman.