Herbert Smith Freehills has recruited Slater & Gordon business crime and investigation head Rod Fletcher following a string of recent exits from the Anglo-Australian firm's litigation practice.

Fletcher will join Herbert Smith in April, and will lead the firm's corporate crime and investigations team alongside partner Graham More.

He is listed as a "star individual" by Chambers and Partners for criminal fraud, as well as a leading lawyer in the white collar crime and professional discipline fields.

The hire of Fletcher comes swiftly after news that corporate fraud partner Simon Bushell is to depart for Latham & Watkins, the latest in a series of high-profile departures for the recently merged firm.

Fletcher is currently advising the Accountancy & Actuarial Disciplinary Board in its ongoing litigation against Deloitte over the collapse of car maker MG Rover. He joins from the London office of Slater & Gordon, which this week officially rebranded from its former identity of Russell Jones & Walker following its takeover last year.

Sonya Leydecker, head of Herbert Smith's global disputes practice said: "Rod is a practitioner of the highest calibre whose experience of heading a business/white collar crime practice and notably undertaking criminal representation and advisory work on investigations and prosecutions will be invaluable to us."

Other high-profile lawyers to have left Herbert Smith in recent months include senior litigation partner Kevin Lloyd, who is set to join Debevoise & Plimpton, and corporate partner Will Pearce, who is departing for Davis Polk & Wardwell. Meanwhile, financial regulatory partner Nikunj Kiri is following former Financial Services Authority market integrity group head Martyn Hopper to Linklaters.