Latham & Watkins is set to boost its Madrid office with the hire of long-serving Linklaters real estate partner Rafael Molina, Legal Week understands.

The move, which comes on the back of Latham's shock hire of former DLA Piper global co-chair Juan Picon last November, will be the latest in a string of magic circle recruits for the US firm, including Linklaters London financial regulation partner Carl Fernandes, whose hire was announced last month.

Molina has been a partner at Linklaters since 2004, having joined in 2002 from local firm Uria Menendez. He is highly rated in the Spanish real estate market and advises investors, developers and financial institutions on transactions such as the financing, restructuring and disposal of real estate assets.

Picon, who was recruited as Latham's Spanish managing partner in November last year, was followed to the US firm by two DLA Madrid corporate partners – Spanish corporate head Jose Antonio Sanchez-Dafos and capital markets partner Ignacio Gomez-Sancha.

Latham is continuing to expand the Madrid base under Picon's leadership, and in April added Linklaters counsel Naiara Rodriguez-Escudero as a partner in its benefits, compensation and employment practice. Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has also been appointed as a senior adviser to the US firm, after stepping down from his role as an adviser to DLA Piper's global board.

Earlier this year Latham also made a key magic circle hire in Germany, with the addition of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer M&A partner Tobias Larisch in Duesseldorf.

Latham & Watkins declined to comment. Linklaters was contacted for comment.