Bird & Bird has recruited two partners from Field Fisher Waterhouse's franchising team following the firm's hire of top-rated Field Fisher franchise lawyer Mark Abell.

Victoria Hobbs, head of franchise dispute resolution at Field Fisher, has been a partner at the firm since 2008, after joining in 2000 as a franchise litigation assistant.

Her disputes experience includes emergency injunctions, mediation, litigation and arbitration, and she joins alongside fellow partner Graeme Payne, who was made up in 2011. Payne's clients range from entrepreneurs, early-stage ventures and SMEs to multinationals in the retail, leisure, food and beverage and healthcare sectors.

The pair joined Bird & Bird's City office this Tuesday (7 May).

Bird & Bird chief executive officer David Kerr said: "There are clear synergies between the nature and type of clients that they have worked for and Bird & Bird's areas of industry and practice focus. Their appointments will considerably strengthen the firm's existing expertise in international franchising and multi-channel strategies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia."

Field Fisher commented: "We thank Victoria and Graeme for their contribution to the firm and wish them well in their future careers. FFW has the largest franchising team in the UK with 23 franchising specialists that work across the retail, hotels, restaurants and service sectors.

"We remain the only full service franchising team in the UK, covering transactions, disputes, IP, real estate, tax and employment."

The news comes after Abell resigned from Field Fisher earlier this year, and was suspended from the firm's partnership. It was understood at the time that he would be joining Bird & Bird. The firm declined to comment on his hire.

Field Fisher's franchising team is now led by partners David Bond and Chris Wormald.