Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has hired an international arbitration partner to its London office from Taylor Wessing, as the U.S. law firm targets growth in the U.K. capital.

Laurence Lieberman joins Pillsbury following his time as a senior partner in Taylor Wessing’s disputes and investigations team. He also led the firm’s India group.

Lieberman specialises in matters relating to life sciences, financial services, technology and crypto.

In the past year, Pillsbury’s London office has welcomed four new partners, including Audrey Koh whose arrival ushered in the firm’s corporate investigations and white collar defence practice in the capital.

Pillsbury has also recently made several hires to its international disputes team, including a team appointment in China and individuals in the U.S.

Several U.S. firms with modestly sized U.K. bases have been growing in London of late.

Last week, New York's Davis Polk & Wardwell relocated to a larger office space and launched a European restructuring practice with the hire of two partners from Sidley Austin.

Fellow New York-headquartered firm Proskauer Rose took on A&O Shearman's private capital co-head, and senior partner candidate, Philip Bowden in the summer. He joined alongside leveraged finance partner Megan Lawrence.

When it launched its London office in May, Chicago-headquartered Perkins Coie hired Ian Bagshaw, White & Case's former private equity leader.

And Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati hired a tax lawyer to its London office from Slaughter and May in September.

“As clients expand into new markets and across borders, their need for seasoned lawyers who can help them navigate complex international disputes and investigations only becomes more acute,” said firm chair David Dekker.

“Laurence fills that need and more, bringing particular experience with a number of important industries and jurisdictions, and reinforcing the strong litigation team already in place, in London and globally.”