Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has secured an eye-catching hire for its City corporate team with the addition of Linklaters' former global corporate head David Barnes.

Barnes will join BLP next month as a partner in the firm's London corporate group after retiring from Linklaters last summer.

Barnes (pictured) left the magic circle firm after standing as one of five candidates for the senior partner role in early 2011. He dropped out of the race in March along with fellow corporate partner Richard Godden, with Robert Elliott subsequently elected to the post.

He retired after 36 years at the firm, 26 of which were spent in the partnership. He was also global head of corporate from 2005-10, after which he was succeeded by Jeremy Parr.

His key clients included BT, HSBC and Sainsbury's, which he advised on its 2003 bid for Safeway and the 2007 takeover approach by Qatari investment group Delta Two.

After joining Linklaters as a trainee in the mid-1970s, Barnes made partner in 1985, at which point he relocated to the firm's Hong Kong office, having spent an earlier period there from 1980 to 1983 as an associate.

BLP corporate head John Bennett said: "We're at an exciting juncture in the development of BLP's corporate practice. David's reputation and experience in London and Asia will facilitate the achievement of our ambitious plans."

The news follows a number of high-profile hires for BLP in recent months with Dechert's Steve Clark also joining the firm's finance practice as a partner in recent weeks.