Stephenson Harwood has hired Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) partner Pierre-Nicolas Sanzey to launch a real estate department in Paris.

Sanzey, who joined HSF in 2005 and was made up as partner in 2008, will not bring any other HSF lawyers with him.

Sanzey has more than 20 years' experience in the real estate sector. His clients include UK-based asset manager Resolution Property, European financial services company Allianz and UK recruitment agency Premier Group.

His arrival takes the total number of partners in Stephenson Harwood's office to eight. Details of the new practice's target size are not yet clear.

Stephenson Harwood chief executive Sharon White said: "His arrival further advances our strategy, particularly in Paris. His wealth of expertise adds a new capability to our already successful real estate practice, as well as further enhancing the services we can offer to our clients from our Paris office."

White is currently temporarily managing the Paris office out of London after previous office managing partner Alain Gautron's term ended in July 2015. Gautron opted to stand down to focus on client work. It is understood there are no imminent plans to find a replacement for him.

The hire comes after Stephenson Harwood hired a team of seven banking and litigation lawyers from Eversheds in Hong Kong, including two partners, in February.

High profile exits for Herbert Smith of late include capital markets head Steve Thierbach, who joined Gibson Dunn & Crutcher last autumn alongside fellow capital markets partner Chris Haynes.