Herbert Smith has bulked up its Paris energy and infrastructure team with the hire of French infrastructure company Bouygues Travaux Publics general counsel Christophe Lefort.

Lefort joined the firm as a partner yesterday (1 December) after 11 years in his role as GC for Bouygues Travaux Publics. Prior to joining the French infrastructure company he was deputy GC at environmental services provider Veolia Environnement.

Lefort specialises in drafting and designing contractual documents on building works, and operating large-scale public and private works. He has worked on projects including the A-28 and A-41 motorways in France, the Sydney metro and the Melbourne tramway in Australia.

Paris energy and infrastructure practice head Stephane Brabant said: "His arrival will further enhance our ability to advise public and private clients on all areas of law involved in major infrastructure projects and other public works.

Lefort's hire takes the total number of partners in the local practice to five.

The news follows the departure of a highly-regarded three-partner litigation team from Herbert Smith's Paris office for Allen & Overy announced in May this year.

The departures comprises the then recently-appointed head of disputes for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Denis Chemla, arbitration partner Michael Young and litigation partner Erwan Poisson.