Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has boosted its ranks in New York with the hire of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher global arbitration co-head Laurence Shore.

Shore originally joined legacy Herbert Smith's London arm in 1995, becoming head of international arbitration at the firm in 2005 before leaving for Gibson Dunn's arbitration practice in 2008. He became co-chair of the practice in the same year.

The dual-qualified lawyer also previously worked at the Office of the Legal Adviser for the US Department of State, as well as US firm Williams & Connolly in Washington DC. He currently chairs the New York City Bar's International Law Committee in New York.

HSF international arbitration co-chief Paula Hodges commented: "Larry is not only an outstanding practitioner, but also a highly regarded colleague, whom we have missed over the last few years. Larry's in-depth arbitration knowledge and his network of contacts in the US and Latin America will play a pivotal role in the further development of our presence in these regions."

HSF launched in New York last September with the hire of a five-partner team from Chadbourne & Parke, which was subsequently joined by 15 additional fee-earners and HSF London arbitration partner Chris Parker, who relocated to establish an arbitration practice in the new base.

The firm also recently confirmed details of its Germany launch, with the hire of a partner from former ally Gleiss Lutz.

Corporate partner Ralf Thaeter, who has worked at Gleiss since 1995, will launch HSF's new Frankfurt-based offering, which is set to open in the second quarter of this year. The firm is looking to hire other partners ahead of the launch, and is understood to be aiming for around four to six partners on the ground by the end of the second quarter.

For more, see Herbert Smith faces fierce competition in 'over-lawyered' German market as rivals size up launch.