Fieldfisher has recruited a new head of privacy to replace former postholder Eduardo Ustaran.

Hazel Grant (pictured) will join from technology and intellectual property-focused firm Bristows, where she has been a partner since 2009. She was previously a partner at Bird & Bird, where she was made up in 2000.

Grant's hire comes after Ustaran quit Fieldfisher to join Hogan Lovells' City office in June, eight months after his former firm last year stated its intention to hold him to an 18-month notice period ending May 2015.

The firm said at the time that the lengthened notice period would allow for succession planning.

Ustaran has been tasked with heading up Hogan Lovells' European privacy and information management practice. He is overseeing a team of 10 partners and 20 associates.

Grant will be joining Fieldfisher's London office late next month. Her client base includes multinational technology corporations, the UK government, security consultants and mobile health device companies.

She advises on data protection compliance strategies as well as the implementation of privacy-compliant technologies and processes. Her work includes advising on cloud computing, data projects and data security breaches as well as providing counsel on responses to freedom of information requests and handling subject access requests.

Grant will report to partner Rob Shooter, who oversees the technology, outsourcing and privacy groups. Shooter said the appointment "marks a step change for [the firm's] privacy team and begins a period of growth".