Ashurst has boosted its real estate practice in London with the hire of Hogan Lovells head of planning. 

Claire Dutch, who joined legacy Lovells in 1999 and was made up to partner in 2007, joins Ashurst's real estate practice to co-head the planning team.

Having headed up Hogan Lovells' planning team for the last two years, Dutch's practice focuses on all aspects of planning law, energy and waste projects.