Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Hogan Lovells has hired corporate investment funds specialist James Wood as a partner in Sydney.

Wood has specific experience advising on private equity funds, real estate funds, energy/infrastructure funds and other sector-focused funds together with other fund-style arrangements, such as syndicated deals, Hogan Lovells said.

"Australia is an increasingly important and attractive part of the global private capital and investment funds industry," global head of the Hogan Lovells corporate practice David Gibbons said in a statement.

"Following the addition of Sydney corporate partners David Holland and Charles Bogle earlier this year, James' appointment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the region and our desire to continue to grow the practice in Australia."

The firm's Australian managing partner Scott Harris said in July that he was planning to more than double its Australian partner numbers in the next three years, on the back of more work from global clients, winning work from Australian companies, and a pickup in local infrastructure building.

Wood joins the firm from local firm Gilbert + Tobin, which had no comment to make on his departure.

"I am delighted to be joining the corporate practice at Hogan Lovells," Wood said. "The firm's integrated nature provides the ideal platform for me to further develop my practice and service my clients."