Steptoe & Johnson has hired BHP Billiton lawyer and former US Navy commander Jeffrey Cottle as a partner in the regulation and compliance group of its London office.

Cottle, who is expected to be actively engaged for clients on both sides of the Atlantic, was latterly based in the UK, where he helped manage energy giant BHP Billiton's global anti-corruption and trade compliance programmes.

Prior to his time at BHP, Cottle spent five years at BAE Systems as a vice president, where he oversaw international compliance and major international transactions.