Latham & Watkins banking co-head and heavyweight partner Christopher Kandel has left the firm to join US rival Morrison & Foerster.

He leaves the London office after almost nine years, after he quit White & Case along with a three-partner team in 2009.

Morrison & Foerster chair Larren Nashelsky said: "Chris is a market-leader with more than 20 years of experience in the London finance market.

"We are delighted that Chris has decided to join our growing London team, and we are certain he will contribute greatly to our increasingly robust global finance practice."

Key deals for Kandel include the take-private financings for Ladbrokes Coral Group and a €6.8bn financing for China National Chemical Corporation's purchase of shares in Italian tyre-making company Pirelli from Camfin.

In a statement, Kandel said: "I believe the acquisition finance market is looking for more choice. Morrison & Foerster has all the right elements in London to make an impact – great M&A, real estate, funds and competition lawyers, a growing finance team and, for deals that run into problems afterwards, a standout US and London restructuring practice. The vision here is compelling."

Other finance hires for Morrison & Foerster in London during 2018 include former Clifford Chance partner Caroline Jury and Ropes & Gray partner Benoit Lavigne.

Meanwhile, Latham also added to its ranks last year, with several standout hires including infrastructure partners Brendan Moylan and Conrad Andersen, who joined from Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy respectively.