Herbert Smith Freehills' (HSF) global co-head of energy John Balsdon is set to join Latham & Watkins in London, marking the latest exit from the Anglo-Australian firm.

Balsdon has been a partner at HSF since 2002, when he joined from Clifford Chance.

He specialises in energy finance with an emphasis on the oil and gas sector, advising clients on matters ranging from project financing to structured trade finance and reserve-based lending.

His move to Latham will reunite him with former HSF corporate partner Simon Tysoe, who joined the US firm last year and now co-leads Latham's energy, oil and gas industry group.

Vice-chair of Latham's executive committee David Gordon said of Balsdon's hire: "John's arrival will bolster our standing as one of the elite global energy and power firms, with top-tier, market-leading expertise in the world's major energy capitals. He is a strong practice builder and he will play a key role in the continued expansion of our energy capability in London and globally."

His departure is the latest in a recent spate of exits from HSF.

Allen & Overy hired London finance partner Nick Bradbury in October, the day after banking heavyweight Malcolm Hitching had been hired by Ropes & Gray.

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

However, the firm has made several hires this year.

At the start of November, it hired Paris real estate partner David Lacaze from Paul Hastings. In March, it hired Gabrielle Wong as a partner in its London finance practice. In May, the firm hired Baker & McKenzie's EMEA M&A chair Soenke Becker. She joined the firm's Duesseldorf office.

Latham has made a slew of hires in the City during the past year.

In October, Legal Week revealed that Allen & Overy (A&O) M&A partner Edward Barnett had become the latest magic circle lateral hire for the US firm. That move came three months after Latham sealed the hire of A&O's former banking head Stephen Kensell, with Latham now hiring in some 13 partners in London since the start of 2016.

Latham London partner hires announced in 2016

February Joshua Kiernan, White & Case Israeli head and capital markets partner Jonathan Parker, Competition and Markets Authority director (joined as competition partner)

May Sophie Lamb, Debevoise & Plimpton, arbitration

June Jeremy Trinder, Dechert, real estate finance Rob Moulton, Ashurst, global co-head of regulation

July Quentin Gwyer, GE Capital real estate executive counsel (joined as finance partner) Simon Baskerville, Ashurst, restructuring Stuart Alford QC, UK Serious Fraud Office (joined as a litigation partner) Stephen Kensell, A&O, finance

August Sanjev Warna-kula-suriya, Slaughter and May, finance

September Nicola Higgs, Ashurst, finance

October Edward Barnett, Allen & Overy, M&A

December John Balsdon, Herbert Smith Freehills, energy