Pinsent Masons has strengthened its financial services team with the hire of top-rated SGH Martineau partner David Doogan as head of the firm's Birmingham banking team.

Doogan, who is top ranked by Chambers and Partners for banking and finance work in Birmingham, headed up the banking team at SGH Martineau, which was formed by the merger of Birmingham firm and London's Sprecher Grier Halberstam in 2011.

His arrival bolsters Pinsents' financial institutions and human capital group which now includes more than 260 lawyers following a number of recent hires.

Banking and restructuring partner Claire Massie joined the firm in Glasgow earlier this month from Dundas & Wilson, while restructuring and insolvency expert Richard Tripp joined the firm's Leeds office in January from Eversheds. Elsewhere, banking litigation specialist Michael Isaacs recently joined in London from Addleshaw Goddard.

Pinsents financial institutions head John Cleland commented: "Birmingham remains an important hub for several prominent financial institutions for whom we act around the UK. His experience ties in with all of the key areas of banking and restructuring work which we carry out in Birmingham and adds to our comprehensive coverage around the UK."

Last week the firm announced turnover of £309m for 2012-13, representing combined growth of 5% in its first year of trading since its merger with McGrigors last May. The two firms last year posted a combined figure of £294m, of which legacy Pinsents contributed £221m, meaning total revenues at the firm have grown 40% since the Scots merger.