Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has bolstered its leveraged finance team in London with the hire of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher partner Amy Kennedy.

She will join Akin Gump later this month and work closely with its finance and private equity teams, according to a spokesperson for the firm.

Kennedy had spent five years at Gibson Dunn, after joining from Weil Gotshal & Manges, where she had been a senior associate. She was promoted to partner in 2018.

As part of her practice, Kennedy advises private equity sponsors in leveraged buyouts, as well as a range of banks and other financial institutions, corporates and client portfolio companies.

Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith said in a statement to Law.com International: "Amy is a highly regarded leveraged finance lawyer whose depth of experience acting for private equity firms complements the firm's deep and expanding private equity capability as well as enhancing our finance and financial restructuring teams.

"She will add significant value for our clients, and I am delighted that she will be joining the firm", he added.

Akin Gump has boosted its London office in recent months. Its hires last year included an energy-focused corporate and private equity partner duo from Vinson & Elkins, three funds partners from O'Melveny & Myers, and White & Case's financial institutions M&A co-head.

However, in November Akin Gump restructuring partner Neil Devaney departed the firm to join Weil's London office.

Last month, the firm announced that it had grown its London revenues by 30% to $125.1 million over the past two years. Overall, the firm measured a 5.9% uptick year-on-year in global revenues to $1.14 billion.

Gibson Dunn was contacted for comment.

With reporting by Simon Lock.