King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has hired capital markets partner Bart Capeci from Sidley Austin to strengthen its City practice.

US-qualified Capeci joined Sidley's securities practice in 2009 from Allen & Overy, where he was a partner in the capital markets team.

He has experience in US and European debt and equity capital markets, and has acted for both issuers and underwriters on multi-jurisdictional IPOs, investment grade bond issues and high yield financings.

Capeci is the latest lateral partner hire to KWM's global capital markets practice. Earlier this year the firm hired US securities partners Christine Chenin in Beijing and Gary Lock in Hong Kong from Herbert Smith Freehills. He becomes the 20th partner appointed to KWM's European practice.

William Boss, managing partner of Europe & the Middle East at KWM, said: "Attracting talent like Bart Capeci is a sign of the growing strength of our global capital markets practice as well as our international finance team in Europe."

Earlier this year KWM advised on Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's record-breaking $25bn (