LG has moved to rebuild its City finance practice with a team hire from Stephenson Harwood.

Real estate finance consultant John Fox and senior associates Matthew East and Simon Elphick will all join LG as partners in March.

Fox specialises in advising banks and borrowers on property-related loan transactions, while East and Elphick advise across real estate finance, acquisitions, sales and management.

The hires follow the departure of three finance and restructuring partners to Pinsent Masons announced in November last year.

Head of finance and restructuring Nicholas Pike, head of restructuring and insolvency Tom Withyman and partner Steven Cottee all handed in their notice in the last quarter of 2011, shortly after banking and finance partner Charles Malpass announced his departure for Dechert's City arm.

However the firm has also strengthened its practice with the hire of Squire Sanders Hammonds partner Iain Shurwood, who joined in October last year.

LG finance head Nick Turner said: "This has been a busy year for us across a range of sectors and there will be scope to really capitalise on the talents of all three and harness their expertise. I look forward to working with them."

Stephenson Harwood real estate head Jonathon Wilkes said: "We would like to thank both associates, and John Fox who is a consultant, for their work at Stephenson Harwood and wish them well as partners at LG."