Dechert has recruited Clifford Chance (CC) litigation partner Stephen Surgeoner in a boost for the US firm's London office.

Surgeoner, who specialises in insurance disputes, is leaving CC after around 25 years at the magic circle firm. He joined in 1992 and made partner in 2002, and has acted for key clients including major banks and energy companies.

Dechert has ramped up its hiring in the City lately, with recent recruits including DLA Piper's financial services global co-chair Philip Butler and London debt finance head David Miles.

Last October the firm made another DLA hire, taking on City partner Paul Fleming, a specialist insolvency litigator with a focus on asset tracing and recovery.

Dechert currently has 27 partners in its London litigation practice, while CC has 29 including Surgeoner, according to the firms' websites.

Dechert recently revamped the leadership of its London office, moving from a one-man managing partner model to a four-person office leadership team. Camille Abousleiman, who heads the firm's international capital markets and emerging markets practice, now serves as chairman of the committee alongside office managing partner Jason Butwick, financial services partner Gus Black, and Miriam Gonzalez, co-chair of the firm's international trade and government regulation practice.

News of Surgeoner's exit from CC comes after it recently emerged that the magic circle's banking co-head Patrick Sarch is set to join White & Case in London. Sarch, who has been a partner at CC since 2001, is due to join the US firm to lead its City corporate practice.

A CC spokesperson said: "We thank Stephen for his contribution to the firm and wish him the best for the future."

A spokesperson for Dechert confirmed that Surgeoner was expected to join the US firm later this year.