Hogan Lovells has hired investment funds partner Jonathan Baird from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London.

Baird is a dual-qualified US and UK lawyer who has been a partner at Freshfields for more than 10 years.

His practice focuses on investment fund and asset management work, advising clients on issues such as capital raisings, M&A and corporate governance matters.

Hogan Lovells global head of corporate David Gibbons said: "Jonathan is a noted leader in listed funds and will enhance our funds practice across London, the US and Europe. Combined with the recent lateral hire of investment funds partner Adam Tope in New York, Jonathan's appointment helps to further expand our coverage across a range of asset classes and fund types, which can better service the needs of our global client base."

Freshfields has seen a number of partner exits recently including the head of its alternative capital group, Sean Lacey, who left the firm in May to join Kirkland & Ellis.

His move followed that of real estate finance partner Jonathan Birks, who left the magic circle firm for Kirkland late last year, and finance partner Michael Steele, who made the move in 2015.

The firm has also restructured its finance practice recently, pulling out of areas such as aviation finance, which led to five partner exits in London.

Last month, Hogan Lovells launched a consulting business for its UK financial services clients, with the hire of a director from PwC.