Simmons & Simmons has boosted its London projects team with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard energy and infrastructure partner Andrew Petry.

Petry, who joined Addleshaws from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2008, spent five years from 2001 to 2006 in the magic circle's Amsterdam office, where he helped establish a finance practice in the region.

His start date at Simmons has not been finalised but is expected to be in February. Petry has particular experience in Islamic finance, social infrastructure, transport PPPs and project bond and capital markets financings in sectors including liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil storage and renewables.

Major deals Petry has been involved in include the financing of a $408m (£253m) LNG terminal acquisition in Mexico, the financing of an LNG plant in Rotterdam and the renewal of Dutch oill and gas company's Royal Vopak's €1bn (£811m) working capital facility.

Simmons head of energy and infrastructure Juliet Reingold said: "Andrew is an extremely experienced and capable practitioner, and his appointment comes as part of our strategy to grow our offering to our clients in the energy and infrastructure sector."

The news comes after Simmons boosted its Paris projects practice with the hire of Linklaters partner Simon Ratledge in September, as part of the firm's push to develop its energy and infrastructure practice and its Africa business.

Ratledge had been a projects partner at the magic circle firm since 2005. He recently took the lead role advising the lenders on the $1.4bn (£869m) project financing for the expansion of Moroccan coal-fired power complex Jorf Lasfar.