Hogan Lovells has hired an oil and gas specialist for its Perth-based finance practice as it continues to expand its Australian finance team.

Paul Shillington, who will join the firm as a partner on May 11, has more than 20 years' experience acting in the energy and resources sectors on both transactional and regulatory aspects of deals, Hogan Lovells said. His practice focuses on providing clients with advice and assistance on asset acquisition and divestment, private M&A, JV arrangements, development activities and the strategic management of associated disputes.

For the past two years, he has had his own practice, Shillington + Co, and before that he was a partner at MinterEllison.

"Paul's arrival represents the latest step in our plan for the building out and strengthening of the Australian practice which is an increasingly important and attractive region for the global energy and resources sector," Matthew Cottiss, global head of Hogan Lovells' finance practice, said in a statement. "Paul's cross-border experience brings enhanced capability to the team supporting both global clients with operations in Australia as well as domestic Australian companies."

In February, the firm hired corporate finance lawyer Bryan Paisley from Baker McKenzie.