Former Blackstone Chambers head Thomas Beazley QC has left the set to join newly launched litigation boutique Hage Aaronson as a partner.

Beazley, who will make the move this month, will become head of international litigation and the eighth partner since the firm was set up in March this year by former One Essex Court barrister Joe Hage.

Beazley was joint head of chambers at Blackstone from 2004 to 2012 and is top rated by Chambers and Partners in a number of categories, including financial services, civil fraud and insurance.He was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 2001.

He has been involved in a raft of high-profile cases including acting as senior leading counsel last year for Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska in his £1bn court battle with Michael Cherney.

Beazley said: "I would not have considered joining another chambers or law firm. I am very excited by the new model being operated by Hage Aaronson, where the philosophy is for the Bar and solicitors to work closely together right from the outset of a dispute. I am also attracted by its truly international outlook."

Hage Aaronson partner Joe Hage said: "Our litigation model has already gained a lot of traction with clients. We intend to carry on working closely with the independent bar and, in particular, Blackstone, which houses some of the best commercial advocates at the Bar."

Hage Aaronson, which specialises in multijurisdictional commercial, financial and tax litigation, as well as arbitration, was set up by founding partners Hage, a former One Essex Court barrister, and Graham Aaronson QC, formerly of Pump Court Tax Chambers.