The American fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has hired New York-based Greenberg Traurig partner Robert Bostrom as its new general counsel.

Bostrom, who is currently co-chair of Greenberg's financial regulatory and compliance practice, replaces Ronald "Rocky" Robins, who last week left the company to re-join Columbus, Ohio-headquartered firm Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease.

In his new role Bostrom will also hold the positions of senior vice president and corporate secretary.

Prior to his time at Greenberg, Bostrom served as general counsel of Freddie Mac, where he helped direct the company's legal strategy during the financial crisis, as well as a stint as GC for legal and regulatory at NatWest's US subsidiary between 1992 and 1996.

When he joins Abercrombie in January, Bostrom will step into a company experiencing sustained investor pressure to oust current chief executive Mike Jeffries, who this week renegotiated a contract with the board.

Since joining the company as CEO in 1992, Jeffries has helped the fashion label grow into a global franchise with revenues of $4bn (£2.4bn), though he was last month publically blamed by shareholders for seven quarters of declining sales.

"Bob brings more than thirty years of experience in the legal field and will be a great asset to Abercrombie & Fitch," commented Jeffries. "Bob has led and helped build some of the best legal departments in the country and has advised leading companies on an expansive range of issues."

Abercrombie said Greenberg was a firm "particularly experienced in the areas of law and business concerns".