Latham & Watkins has once again struck at its magic circle rivals, as the war for talent in the City shows no sign of abating.

The U.S. firm has hired Linklaters insurance partner Victoria Sander, who is set to join the firm's London base next month.

She is currently on gardening leave, according to a Linklaters spokesperson.

Sander is a Linklaters lifer, having joined the firm in 1995. Last year, she was part of the team advising Rothesay Life on the reinsurance and acquisition of £12 billion of non-profit annuities from Prudential, and in 2014 she advised on Friends Life's £5.6 billion takeover by Aviva.

The previous year, she led the team advising Royal London on the acquisition of the Co-operative Insurance Society for £219 million.

Her hire is the latest in a slew of hires for the acquisitive U.S. firm in London.

Last year, it picked up two lateral hires from Linklaters – London financial regulation partner Carl Fernandes and Madrid real estate partner Rafael Molina.

Other magic circle players also had prime talent picked off when Latham boosted its M&A infrastructure bench strength with the hires of partners Brendan Moylan and Conrad Anderson from Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy respectively.

Additionally, it hired Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer M&A partner Tobias Larisch in Duesseldorf.