Ashurst has hired Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom's former global co-head of private equity Shaun Lascelles.

He joins Ashurst as a partner in its London private equity team.

Lascelles spent three years at Ashurst as an associate between 1999 and 2002 before joining Skadden. He has been a partner since 2007.

Ashurst global head of corporate Simon Beddow said Lascelles' credentials were "first-rate". He added: "Shaun will play an important role in enhancing and consolidating our global private equity offering, which remains a core part of our global corporate practice."

Lascelles said: "With private equity firms looking to take advantage of an influx of capital across the industry, helping them to leverage and unlock global opportunities is a key priority for law firms."

Both Ashurst and Skadden have suffered major losses to their London private equity practices in recent years.

In summer 2014 respected Skadden private equity specialist Allan Murray-Jones announced his retirement from the firm's partnership.

Ashurst has also lost key private equity partners in the last couple of years, with former corporate head Stephen Lloyd and private equity partner Karan Dinamani joining Allen & Overy and former senior partner Charlie Geffen and partner Mark Sperotto joining Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.