Dechert has boosted its City office with the hire of US rival Sidley Austin's global litigation co-head Dorothy Cory-Wright.

Cory-Wright, who also served as London litigation head at Sidley, joined Dechert this week as London head of commercial disputes, joining a City practice that counts more than 50 lawyers, including 12 partners.

She joins after more than 10 years at Sidley after joining in 2007 from City firm Kendall Freeman.

She told Legal Week: "Clients increasingly need firms to advise on multi-jurisdictional matters that sit at the juncture of litigation and complex regulatory issues. Looking at Dechert's profile and where it's situated in terms of skills, there is an obvious fit."

Last month, Dechert hired former senior US federal prosecutor Roger Burlingame as a white-collar partner in London, having picked up Kirkland & Ellis City corporate partner Christopher Field and his former Kirkland colleague tax partner Jane Scobie last year.

Dechert London management committee member and litigation partner Jason Butwick added: "The firm is very focused on growth in key jurisdictions at the moment, of which London is one. In the last 18 months we've had six lateral partners, including Dorothy, join the office. Litigation in particular is a growth focus for the firm and our London office, as well as our private equity, corporate and financial service credentials. We want London to be a hub for multi-jurisdictional work and we hope to see further hires in the short to mid term."

Sidley Austin declined to comment on plans to replace Cory-Wright in her practice-leadership role. Europe managing partner George Petrow said: "Clients turn to us for our collective strength, which transcends the experience of a single partner. Nonetheless, we appreciate Dorothy's contributions to the firm and we wish her continued success."