DLA Piper has sealed the hire of Clifford Chance (CC) leveraged finance partner Tony Lopez for its structured finance team.

Lopez, who is US-qualified, joined CC's Manhattan office in 2006, brought in from Cahill Gordon & Reindel, before relocating to the magic circle firm's London office in 2011.

Lopez, who advises on high yield bonds and aviation finance,is joining DLA Piper's City partnership. His hire will boost numbers in the London structured finance team to five partners, according to the firm's website.

The news comes as Chadbourne & Parke has hired Clifford Chance capital markets counsel Nikolai Mikhailov as a partner. Mikhailov, who is US-qualified and based in London, will split his time between the US firm's London and Moscow offices.

He initially joined CC's New York office as an associate in 2000 before relocating to the City office in 2006. During his time at the firm Mikhailov was involved in developing its Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey capital markets offering.

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