Stephenson Harwood has hired a London partner from U.S. firm Winston & Strawn, in a rare City acquisitive move for the firm.

Litigation and investigations partner Justin McCelland has joined Stephenson Harwood after seven years as a partner at Winston's City office.

He had stints as a senior associate at Milbank and Slaughter and May before that.

Before joining private practice, McCelland served as a lawyer in the British Army and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

His practice is focused on contentious financial regulation, economic crime and corporate investigations.

Stephenson Harwood has made few lateral hires in its City office in recent years. Its most recent London partner addition was last autumn, when it hired energy partner Marc Hammerson from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

However it has expanded internationally, building out its Asia presence with the acquisition of U.S. firm Troutman Sanders' Beijing office last year.

Also in 2018, the firm moved to new offices in Paris and opened for business in Yangon, Myanmar.

Last year, the firm grew its revenue by 6% to £189 million, but its profit per equity partner fell 6% – the second consecutive year the firm saw partner profits fall.