King & Spalding has established a Paris energy practice with the hire of a five lawyer team from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), led by the firm's former North Africa practice head Mehdi Haroun.

The US firm said the hires would give King & Spalding "added firepower" in France, and present new opportunities for the international energy practice.

In addition to Haroun – who joins as a partner – the firm has also hired HSF partner Philippe Trosset and senior associate Ruxanda Lazar, both of whom join King & Spalding as counsel.