Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has boosted its US litigation and investigations offering with the hire of John O'Donnell, a former assistant US attorney and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) division head.

O'Donnell (pictured), who most recently spent ten years as an assistant US attorney in the criminal division of the Southern District of New York – five of which were in the securities fraud unit – joins as partner.

At HSF, he will work closely with Scott Balber, the firm's joint head of investigations and financial services litigation for the US.