Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has sealed the hire of Shearman & Sterling finance partner Tim Pick in London.

Pick, who will start his new role at the magic circle firm on 13 May, focuses on the energy and natural resources sector across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He is top rated for UK projects work by Chambers and Partners.

He joined Shearman in London in 1999, and was made partner in 2005 and handed leadership of the firm's international project development and finance group in 2011. During his time at the US firm he also spent six years working in Abu Dhabi.

Alan Rae Smith, head of Freshfields' international energy project finance group said that Pick's project finance side attracted him to the role.

Alan Rae Smith told Legal Week: "Our global energy team already has strong credentials, which attracted Tim to the role. Tim is also a recognised expert in international project finance, which was attractive to us as it strengthens our finance offering and complements our team's existing strengths in M&A, dispute resolution and antitrust.

"The current challenge of ensuring long-term security of supply means we anticipate huge activity in the energy sector in the coming years and with Tim's hire, and the in-depth expertise that he brings, we are continuing to expand our energy practice to meet demand."

Pick will join the 14 new partners recently made up to Freshfields' partnership, two of who were promoted in the firm's global finance practice – Denise Ryan in London and Florian Klimscha in Vienna.

Other recent investment in the firm's global energy team has included the hires of Allens Arthur Robinson partner Gavin MacLaren in Singapore and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy partner Mark Plenderleith in Tokyo.