Olswang has become the latest UK firm to fall prey to the Big Four accountancy firms' push into the legal market with its international employment group head joining EY.

Daniel Aherne will join the professional services group as a partner later this month.

Aherne is the third law firm partner to be poached this year by EY, formerly known as Ernst & young, as it seeks to develop a domestic legal services arm.

Philip Goodstone, formerly divisional managing partner at Addleshaw Goddard, and Matthew Kellett, ex-finance chief at Berwin Leighton Paisner, are also set to join EY next month.

"The appointments have been made with a view to building a legal capability for EY in the UK, subject to regulatory approval, which could complement EY's existing service offering," said an EY spokesperson.

Aherne's practice at Olswang focused on complex, high-value employment tribunal litigation.

Ahead of Aherne's departure, Olswang's global litigation chief Richard Bamforth confirmed that partner Catherine Taylor had been appointed as head the firm's international employment group, with fellow partner Melanie Lane stepping up to lead the UK employment group.

"We wish Dan all the best with his move and thank him for his contributions to the employment and litigation groups, which continue to grow throughout our international network," commented Bamforth.

EY's latest hire underscores the accountancy sector's growing appetite for law firm partners as they bulk up their legal services offerings.

Former Fieldfisher partner and technology star Stewart Room will join PwC Legal as head of cyber and data security in October.

In addition the organisation – an alternative business structure part-owned by PricewaterhouseCoopers – has enlisted recruiters Fox Rodney Search to find a corporate partner to help develop its existing reorganisations practice.

Meanwhile, former DLA Piper corporate partner Nick Roome joined KPMG in June as north England head of legal services.