Macfarlanes has taken over specialist hedge fund law firm D Harris & Co International (DHCI) in a bid to grow the firm's footprint in the hedge fund market.

All of DHCI's nine City-based employees have joined Macfarlanes' private equity practice today (16 January), with DHCI founder Daniel Harris taking a consultant role alongside five associates, two trainees and one paralegal.

Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin said: "We have been looking to do something more in the hedge fund area for some time. It is a natural adjunct to our private equity, financing and private client practices. We have been doing an increasing amount of work for hedge funds in any event in the recent past.

"In the light of increasing regulatory pressure globally, but particularly in the US, this is an area that has strategic importance for the financial services industry. We wanted to offer more depth and breadth, and we also have some important common clients, so this makes a great fit."

The news follows a number of hires for Macfarlanes over the past year, including Shearman & Sterling's Ian Nisse, who joined the firm as head of real estate in September, and Clifford Chance structured finance partner Rachel Kelly, who joined the firm last spring.

The firm's investment funds and financial services group is headed up by Bridget Barker, who joined the firm in 1981 and has been a partner since 1988.