Herbert Smith Freehills has turned to the Bar for its latest partner recruit, hiring Tom Leech QC from Maitland Chambers to join its London advocacy group.

HSF's advocacy group was set up in 2005 by founding members Murray Rosen QC and Ian Gatt QC to provide a flexible in-house approach to the use and instruction of advocates. The group – which currently numbers three partners and four associates – offers trial, appeal and interlocutory expertise as well as specialist advice on strategy across a wide range of contentious and non-contentious practice areas.

Leech's practice at Maitland covers commercial litigation, professional negligence and company and property litigation. It also has a strong offshore focus, covering Bermuda, Gibraltar, Guernsey and the British Virgin Islands.

Leech was called to the Bar in 1988 and took silk in 2010. He has been involved in a number of high profile cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords including Scullion v Bank of Scotland.

Rosen is due to retire from the firm on 30 April 2014, and will continue to practise in the legal sector as well as in various part time judicial appointments including the High Court, Chancery Division.

Sonya Leydecker, global head of Herbert Smith Freehills' dispute resolution practice commented: "We broke new ground when we launched our in-house Advocacy Unit in 2005. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength and become an integral part of our disputes practice and our service to clients. The Unit is now embarking on a new phase in its development and Tom will be a great addition to our team."

Leech added: "After more than 20 happy and successful years at 9 Old Square and Maitland Chambers I am looking forward to embarking on a new phase of my career and to working more closely with the premier disputes team at HSF."