Paul Hastings has hired a team of lawyers from King & Wood Mallesons' (KWM) Paris office, led by former Europe and Middle East real estate co-head Jean-Louis Martin.

Martin, the head of KWM's French real estate practice, is joining the US firm along with three associates.

He moved to KWM in 2015 after leaving Jones Day, where he spent 10 years as an associate. Before joining Jones Day he had been a counsel at Clifford Chance.

His practice focus on acquisitions and sales of assets, portfolios, financing, and formation of real estate funds, and his clients include real estate investment funds, institutional investors, sovereign funds, French and international developers.

Paul Hastings chair Seth Zachary said: "Jean-Louis is one of the most highly regarded real estate partners in France and is a welcome addition to our leading global practice."

The hires for Paul Hastings come after the exit of Paris real estate partner David Lacaze to Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) last year. Lacaze, who started at HSF in November, also took an associate with him.

Paul Hastings is just one of a raft of firms to have taken on partners from KWM amid the collapse of the firm's European arm.

Other Paris partners to have found new homes include seven joining Reed Smith – competition partners Marc Levy and Natasha Tardif, tax partners Sylvie Vansteenkiste, Fanny Combourieu and Raphael Bera, and corporate and private equity partners Guilain Hippolyte and Pierre-Louis Perin.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has recruited Paris investment funds co-head Nathalie Duguay, while Goodwin Procter has taken a five-lawyer team in the French capital led by international funds co-head Arnaud David.