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Squire Patton Boggs has rapidly grown its newly launched global commodities and shipping group with the hire of a partner duo from HFW, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

International corporate head at HFW Brian Gordon has left the firm after a decade, and is joined in the departure by fellow longstanding partner Chris Swart.

Gordon joined HFW's London office as an associate in 2009 and was promoted to partner two years later.

He is joined in the move by Swart, who started at HFW in 1995.

Both partners were part of the HFW team that advised advised the Government of Niger on a sovereign debt workout in 2015.

Meanwhile, the firm has also hired a third HFW partner, Simon Adams, to its Perth office, according to one person with knowledge of the moves.

Squire launched a global commodities and shipping group with the hire of two Reed Smith partners in Singapore last month.

It also hired Rio Tinto in-house legal counsel Cameron Ford as an international arbitration partner in Singapore earlier this year.

In London, the U.S. firm has also grown with new hires this year. These include Herbert Smith Freehills banking partner Ian Yeo and former Ashurst managing partner and finance partner James Collis.

Last week, the U.S. firm also refreshed its London and European management. The firm has appointed Leeds-based corporate partner Jonathan Jones as its European managing partner, who will take over from current head Jane Haxby in January 2020.

Haxby will then take up the role of London managing partner. Previously, the firm's global managing partner of clients and strategy, Stephen Mahon, had relocated from the U.S. to oversee the base.

A HFW spokesperson said in a statement: "We can confirm that Chris, Brian and Simon are leaving the firm. We wish them well."