Arbuthnot Banking Group has appointed former Simmons & Simmons corporate partner Alan Karter as its new head of legal affairs.

Karter, who left Simmons at the end of 2011, will take up the newly-created position this month and will work closely with the bank's existing risk and compliance personnel.

Karter has a track record of working with the bank, having completed Secure Trust Bank's initial public offering (IPO) last November, in a deal that saw Simmons advise both Secure Trust and Arbuthnot.

Karter, who joined Simmons in 1987 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, spent four years as a partner in the firm's Milan office. He has particular knowledge of working with financial institutions, having advised a variety of clients on joint ventures, M&A, regulatory matters and capital raisings.

In 2010, Karter led the team advising Equity Trust's management on its sale to buyout firm Doughty Hanson for €350m (£291m). The deal also saw the London offices of two US firms take the lead corporate roles, with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom acting for the buyer while Kirkland & Ellis advised Candover.

He also part of the Simmons team which advised on UK aspects of the sale of Bear Stearns to JP Morgan in 2008.

Karter said: "I very much enjoyed working with [Arbuthnot] in 2011 on the IPO of Secure Trust Bank and I look forward to contributing to its future success."