Baker & McKenzie's London office has hired EY partner Mark Bevington to boost its corporate tax practice.

As a non-lawyer, Bevington cannot join Bakers' partnership, though as the firm's a principal tax advisor, he will be remunerated at a similar level to a senior partner.

With a background in international tax planning and UK domestic taxation, Bevington will support Bakers' 40-strong tax team of lawyers, transfer pricing and VAT advisors and economists, including non-lawyer and head of VAT Mark Delaney, who joined from PwC in 2006.

Commenting on his appointment, Bevington said Bakers is well-placed to win work from traditional tax advisers in the accountancy world.

"The international tax services market is changing and it is clear that global law firms, particularly Baker & McKenzie, are perfectly positioned to emerge as the preferred advisors to clients," he said.

"The international tax services market continues to be in a state of flux," added Bakers' London corporate tax head Alex Chadwick. "Our ambition is be a leader in the market and Mark's appointment is in line with that."

In recent years, Bakers has actively sought to broaden its offering beyond legal advice and compete head on with professional services firms.

Outside of London, Bakers has made a string of lateral hires from the Big Four, with PwC partner Peter Tan in Singapore and former Rome-based Deloitte partner Michele Santocchini both making the transition to Bakers in February.