Hervé Jouanjean will join the firm's international trade practice in Brussels as a senior trade expert. Jouanjean joins from the French law firm Fidal, where he was of counsel.

He was previously a director in the European Commission's trade department, deputy head of the commission's delegation to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, and deputy secretary-general of the commission.

Jouanjean will work alongside Marie-Sophie Dibling, who recently joined King & Spalding as a partner from Fidal. He will divide his time between Paris and Brussels.

"Hervé has more than 30 years of experience working in senior roles at the very heart of the EC, so his knowledge of the inner workings of the commission is of the highest standard," Steve Orava, chair of King & Spalding's international trade group, said in a statement. "His expertise across trade policy, internal market and financial issues adds an exciting new dynamic to our practice and offers our clients a first-rate resource for EC and trade-related advice."

The recruitment of Jouanjean is part of King & Spalding's ongoing plan to build up its Brussels office. The firm also hired Dibling earlier this month.

In addition to trade policy, the Brussels office will address clients needs in other major practice areas, including data protection, food and healthcare, the firm said.

"We've been looking at Brussels for a while for a regulation and investigations practice," Orava said.

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King & Spalding Hires International Trade Partner in Brussels