Field Fisher Waterhouse has sealed the hire of respected EU and competition partner Philippe Ruttley from Clyde & Co.

Ruttley, who joined Clydes as a partner in 2001 from Mayer Brown legacy firm Rowe & Maw, has joined Field Fisher's four-partner competition and EU regulatory practice in London along with Clydes senior associate Solange Leandro.

Ruttley's practice focuses on the transport, maritime and aviation sectors, and he has previously worked for the UN, the EU Commission Legal Service and the Treasury Solicitor's Department.

Key roles he has taken have included advising consumer group Which? on a long-running case which saw retail chain JJB Sports investigated by the Office of Fair Trading over price-fixing allegations.

In 2001 he joined a group of lawyers from around the world on the International Lawyers for Multilateral Trade Co-operation panel, which was set up by the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Field Fisher competition and EU regulatory head Charles Whiddington said: "Philippe's experience in EU competition matters fits in well with Field Fisher's strong focus on behavioural competition work and his international client base includes a number of Japanese clients, a region where we have strong links and a successful track record."

The news comes after Field Fisher recruited Maclay Murray & Spens corporate partner Jonathan Brooks for its equity capital markets practice in October, as well as a three-lawyer regulatory team from Lydian in Brussels in September.