International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges has hired Benjamin de Blegiers from Clifford Chance in Paris.

De Blegiers, who will join the firm as a private equity and M&A partner, focuses on the infrastructure sector and has advised investment funds, pension funds, insurance companies and other long-term investors.

"We see a strategic need to have an infrastructure practice of the same standing as our leading private equity and M&A group," David Aknin, who also works in Weil's Paris office, said in a statement. "In a relatively short period of time, Benjamin has achieved an outstanding reputation, having worked on a large number of infrastructure M&A transactions for the most sought-after infrastructure investors."

Weil has more than 80 lawyers based in its Paris office, where it has lawyers focused on a variety of practice areas, including private equity transactions, reorganisations, distressed M&A, banking and finance, restructurings, and tax and competition matters. It also handles disputes, including criminal investigations that affect companies and their managers.