Proskauer has hired the head of Fried Frank's London tax practice Robert Gaut, to support the expansion of the firm's City corporate and funds teams.

The hire, which Proskauer announced internally today (17 January), brings its partner headcount to 16 in the City. It also leaves Fried Frank without a tax partner in London.

Until recently, Proskauer did not have a dedicated tax partner in the London office, though former KWM SJ Berwin partner Dominic Adams acts as a part-time tax consultant alongside two associates.

The appointment was hailed by London managing partner Thomas Dollinger, who said Gaut's experience would help the firm's efforts to expand its presence in the UK and Europe.

Gaut joined Fried Frank from Jones Day in 2005, moving as part of a three-partner team which included the firm's former head of international tax Keith Featherstone.

An adviser to multinational corporations, investment banks and private equity funds on a range of UK and international tax matters, Gaut has acted on transactions with an aggregate value of more than $26bn (£15.8bn) in the past 12 months.

He is also advising a number of clients on the UK's proposed changes to the treatment of partnerships and LLPs structures, as well as the tax considerations for technology companies investing in the US.

"We have a robust corporate platform and Robert's arrival is an important step forward in the continued development of our London office as we replicate the firm's strengths globally," commented Dollinger.