Allen & Overy (A&O) has hired London finance partner Nick Bradbury from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF).

He is set to join the firm as a partner in the magic circle firm's City non-contentious financial services regulatory practice in early 2017.

The news comes comes after Legal Week revealed yesterday (19 October) that Ropes & Gray had hired banking heavyweight Malcolm Hitching.

Bradbury joined HSF a year and a half ago as a partner. Before that, he was a senior associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

He focuses on financial markets and advises investment banks and other financial institutions on regulatory matters.

The move comes after A&O's head of non-contentious financial services regulation Bob Penn joined US firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton earlier this year.

Penn joined Allen & Overy's regulatory practice in 1999 and became a partner in 2007.

A&O London head of financial services regulation Damian Carolan said: "Building on our regulatory practice is key to maintaining our ability to provide top quality cross-border advice and expertise to our financial institution clients, particularly in light of the raft of regulation that has dominated the industry since the global financial crisis. Nick's skills and experience will add valuable further depth to our existing team and we look forward to welcoming him."

Other recent partner departures from HSF include the firm's head of Paris disputes Isabelle Michou leaving for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, which was announced earlier this month.

Last month, a 10-partner team across Australia and Asia resigned from the firm to join White & Case for the US firm's Australia launch.

In May, Weil Gotshal & Manges hired HSF London head of private equity James MacArthur.

In March, HSF hired Gabrielle Wong as a partner in its London finance practice. Wong joined from Shearman & Sterling, where she was a counsel. In May, the firm hired Baker & McKenzie's EMEA M&A chair Soenke Becker. She joined the firm's Duesseldorf office.

HSF said: "We can confirm that Nick Bradbury is retiring from the partnership. We thank Nick for his contribution to our global FSR practice. We wish Nick every success in the future."