Fulbright & Jaworski City disputes partner Richard Hill is set to leave the US firm to join Royal Dutch Shell as associate general counsel in its newly-launched global disputes group.

Hill, who will meet trial commitments in the coming weeks before joining the energy giant's London operation in August, focuses on disputes in sectors including energy, power, transportation, among others.

In his new role, Hill will oversee disputes in Europe and the CIS, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Lynda Irvine – Hill's counterpart in Houston, Texas – will oversee the company's disputes group in the Americas.

Following two years practising as a barrister in London and seven years as an associate at Baker & McKenzie, Hill joined Fulbright in 2005, becoming a partner in January 2008. He has led the US firm's Asian disputes practice since July 2008.

The hire comes after a period of expansion in the energy company's in-house team, having hired litigation partner Peter Rees QC from Debevoise & Plimpton in 2010 as its legal director.

Rees oversees a global legal team of 1,200 and holds a position on the board. Shell operates in 90 countries with 93,000 employees and revenues of $368bn (£226bn).