Simmons & Simmons has hired its sixth partner from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in London this year, with the addition of corporate insurance partner Pollyanna Deane.

Deane is due to join Simmons early next year (16 January), after five years as a partner with BLP, having previously served as a partner with legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert. She will join Simmons' corporate and commercial practice, which is headed by Mark Curtis.

Simmons said the hire came as part of a bid to strengthen its practice on the regulatory side of insurance and other financial institution transactions. Focusing on transactional and regulatory advisory work, Deane has acted for reinsurers, insurers, mutuals, intermediaries and service providers to the insurance industry.