Norton Rose Fulbright global and European head of technology and innovation Mike Rebeiro is set to join Macfarlanes.

Rebeiro, who has been a partner at Norton Rose since 2000, has resigned from the global firm and will join Macfarlanes as senior adviser and head of digital and innovation. His start date is yet to be confirmed.

He previously worked at both Slaughter and May and semi-conductor designer Cadence Design Systems, where he spent 18 months as European general counsel.

Rebeiro specialises in IT procurement, artificial intelligence and global digital transformation projects for both the public and private sectors.

Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin said: "This is an exciting opportunity for the firm and our clients. Mike has an impressive track record which will greatly enhance our ability to assist our clients in this fast moving area. We look forward to welcoming him to the firm."

Norton Rose Fulbright has split Rebeiro's role into two, with Sydney corporate technology partner Nick Abrahams becoming global head of technology and innovation and London partner Sean Murphy taking on the role for Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Abrahams and Murphy began their roles on January 1.

Macfarlanes makes lateral hires relatively rarely. In December 2016, the firm hired several partners from King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), ahead of that firm's collapse.

KWM competition partners Tom Usher and Cameron Firth joined as partners, with former senior partner Stephen Kon, joining as a consultant. It also hired fellow KWM competition partner Christophe Humpe to launch a Brussels office.

At the start of this year, Macfarlanes announced that longstanding senior partner Martin is set to step down in 2020 and will be succeeded by private client partner Sebastian Prichard Jones.

Macfarlanes managing partner Julian Howard is also set to stand down in 2020, with a successor to be appointed in the next few months.

Commenting on Rebeiro's exit Norton Rose said in a statement: "We thank Mike Rebeiro for his contributions to the firm and wish him well in his future endeavours."