DLA Piper has become the latest firm to set up a consultancy arm with the launch of Noble Street, an advisory business focusing on financing, corporate and M&A activities within the media, entertainment, technology and sports sectors.

The service will work with DLA's existing international client base, particularly across the Middle East and Asia, to advise on investment opportunities for both DLA's media, entertainment, technology and sports clients and its financial and investor clients.

The advisory group will be based in London, and has been set up in response to the investment opportunities created by a "chronic shortage of capital" within those sectors.

Noble Street will be headed by Anthony Mosawi, a former Hollywood financier who joined DLA in February to launch the venture as co-head of the firm's strategic media advisory group.

DLA global co-chairman Sir Nigel Knowles said the project was "hugely exciting". He added that it would marry the firm's "specialist media and tech sector knowledge" and its "global footprint" to take advantage of growth in its chosen market sectors.

DLA's launch of a consulting business echoes similar moves made in recent months by other firms.

RPC opened a management consultancy business for the insurance sector in February and a group of partners from Bird & Bird entered into a joint venture with IT change business ASE Consulting in the same month.

Other firms with an existing consulting arm include Eversheds, which set up a new business strand in 2010 to advise in-house legal teams on the management of legal services.