Simmons & Simmons has secured the hire of Dentons' Middle East disputes and construction chief David Risbridger.

Risbridger, who was based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, joined legacy Denton Wilde Sapte in 1997 and was made up as partner in 2000.

Last year legacy SNR Denton put Risbridger in charge of co-ordinating the firm's regional business development strategy as part of a range of leadership changes in the Middle East.

Risbridger is set to join Simmons' Dubai office later this month. He advises on construction, projects and disputes for governments, private companies and individuals.

Simmons Middle East chief Andrew Wingfield said: "The expansion of the dispute resolution construction team in the Middle East is another example of the firm building on its key strengths in the region.

"We see many opportunities in the region, in particular those arising from the 2022 World Cup in Doha and Dubai's bid for Expo 2020, and we look forward to David's arrival to expand the dispute resolution practice."

Last year, former SNR Denton Middle East managing partner Leigh Hall, based in Doha, quit the firm for "personal reasons".

Other partner departures from Dentons' Middle East offices in recent months include banking and finance partner Martin Brown, who departed in May to help launch Addleshaw Goddard's Qatar office.

Meanwhile former Dentons Middle East international disputes chief Paul Stothard relocated to London from Dubai in 2012 before joining SJ Berwin, now King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin, in September this year.

Dentons closed its Kuwait office earlier this year.

Risbridger's move marks the third partner hire for Simmons in the Middle East this year, following the appointments of corporate partner Arnaud Depierrefeu in Doha, who joined from UGGC & Associes, and capital markets partner Haitham Hawashin in Abu Dhabi, who left Jordan-headquartered firm Khalifeh & Partners.