Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has hired Linklaters' infrastructure counsel to join the firm as a partner, capping off 12 months in which it has won multiple major infrastructure mandates.

Simon Caridia will join HSF as a partner as the firm builds up its infrastructure capabilities following an internal review of the practice.

Caridia, who will join the firm on 1 May, has worked with clients including National Grid and focuses his practice on infrastructure financing.

Over the past year the infrastructure practice at HSF, which was formed from the merger of UK firm Herbert Smith and Australian outfit Freehills in 2012, has secured several major mandates.

The firm is advising on the High Speed Two railway (HS2), the Thames Tideway Tunnel, NNB Generation Company's (a subsidiary of EDF) nuclear power station programme and the Swansea Tidal Lagoon.

HSF is also advising Indian company Reliance Infrastructure on its acquisition of 18% of Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company. The deal is the largest ever in the Indian defence sector.

Patrick Mitchell, head of infrastructure for UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia at HSF, said: "We have always been strong in the sector as a firm and both legacy firms were good at it.

"The merger has given the infrastructure practice the resources to expand in places like the Middle East and Asia."

Globally the firm has 50 infrastructure and projects partners with 190 UK-based lawyers working in the practice.

"We have been working in this sector for decades but in recent years we have increasingly pursued opportunities in Asia and Africa, in addition to maintaining our presence in mature markets," added Mitchell.

However, as the recent mandates attest, further to the broadening of the sector opportunities in emerging markets, the UK has a good number of infrastructure opportunities and the firm is confident that it has the offering to take advantage of the increase in work available.

"Even in mature markets there are many infrastructure needs. For example, in the UK, where the economy has recovered strongly, the country has continuing significant infrastructure needs," said Mitchell.

HSF has taken a leading role advising HS2 on the new north-south high-speed rail line, providing infrastructure, construction and rolling stock advice on one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe.

The firm is also advising Amber Infrastructure, Dalmore Capital, Allianz and DIF on all aspects of the bid process to develop the new Thames Tideway Tunnel, £4.2bn sewer under London.

Andrew Clark, HSF's head of projects for Asia and Australia, said: "What we found is that, particularly in the infrastructure sector, the market is looking for lawyers and experts who really understand that sector and what is market practice – and that was a key finding in our review."

Three years on from the merger between UK firm Herbert Smith and Australia's Freehills, the infrastructure practice is focusing on strengthening its internal network as a final hallmark of integration between the firms.

"We are really trying to connect up a number of practices globally and putting the right structures in place to ensure that the right expertise from around the network is brought to bear on the opportunities and it is really starting to deliver some results," said Clark. "It is pretty exciting looking at the magnitude of that market."