Crowell & Moring.

Crowell & Moring has hired its seventh partner from U.S. Squire Patton Boggs this year, as it continues to bolster its London office.

Squire disputes partner Nicola Phillips is set to make the move to Crowell after resigning last week, a person with knowledge of the matter told Law.com's Legal Week.

Phillips has been at Squire for just over 12 years, having joined as a senior associate in 2007 from DMH Stallard. She made partner at Squire last year.

At Crowell, she will be reunited with former Squire London managing partner Robert Weekes and several other ex-colleagues.

Other Squire hires for Crowell in London include finance partner Andrew Knight, infrastructure partner Robin Baillie, London insolvency head Cathryn Williams and insolvency partner Paul Muscutt.

Prior to his move to Crowell, Weekes had led Squire's London office for a decade, before the firm's global managing partner Stephen Mahon relocated to London last year.

Weekes told Legal Week that Crowell's intention to bolster its London office can be attributed to the firm's current "expansionary appetite" – as demonstrated by the firm's planned launch in Shanghai – and requests for a greater London presence from clients.

Last week, Squire made a significant hire in its London office with the addition of former Ashurst managing partner James Collis.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Squire said London is the largest of the firm's 47 offices and central to its international strategy. "The office had its strongest year on record and is on pace for an even better 2019," the spokesperson said. "We thank our former colleagues for their time with the firm."