Jones Day has made a rare hire in its London office with the addition of Eversheds Sutherland partner James Pickavance, two people with knowledge of the situation have told Law.com's Legal Week.

Construction litigation partner Pickavance joined legacy Eversheds in 2013 as a partner, having previously been an associate at Herbert Smith Freehills where he also trained.

He was listed as one of Legal Week's litigation rising stars in 2016, having represented a contractor in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of the 'Chernobyl Arch', with a contract price of €800 million and the current estimated cost of €2.2 billion.

He also acted for the world's second-biggest company in relation to a dispute on an $11 billion oil and gas project in Abu Dhabi.

According to his Eversheds Sutherland profile, he most recently led the firm's construction international arbitration practice.

He is one of few lateral additions to Jones Day's London office, which has seen several departures in recent years.

A flurry of partners has left the U.S. firm's London base in 2019 so far, to firms including Latham & Watkins, Haynes and Boone and Baker Botts.

Earlier this year, Jones Day reshuffled its London leadership, appointing partner Anna Cartwright to lead its London corporate practice.

A spokesperson for Eversheds Sutherland said in a statement: "James has been a valued member of the team for a number of years. We wish James all the very best in his new role at Jones Day."

Jones Day did not respond immediately to requests for comment.