Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired a new head of corporate for its Paris office from highly-rated French outfit Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier.

Corporate partner Herve Pisani is set to join the firm after more than 10 years as a partner at Darrois. Pisani will take over as head of the group in Paris from Fabrice Cohen, who will return to full-time fee-earning.

Pisani becomes the seventh partner in the French corporate practice and takes the total number of partners in the office to 25.

Cohen said: "We have known Herve for a number of years and his arrival is a logical step in the successful development of our team over the recent years.

"The M&A market is becoming more and more international and clients are having to manage more risks. Herve will bring his experience and expertise in both fields and increase the range of services we can offer to our existing and future clients."

Pisani specialises in advising on M&A transactions with significant litigation aspects, particularly relating to the stock exchange and regulatory litigation.

The news follows the appointment of former Paris dispute resolution head Elie Kleiman as office managing partner in November this year. Kleiman took over the role from Antoine Colonna d'Istria, who has led the office since 2007.

Freshfields also strengthened its Paris public law practice in April this year with the hire of a trio of lawyers from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker led by partner Pascal Cuche.