Latham & Watkins has expanded its London banking team with the hire of a new finance partner.

Gary Hamp, an IFLR1000 Leading lawyer, joins from Hogan Lovells where he focused on acquisition and leveraged finance matters, debt restructurings, structured finance and distressed investments. He had previously led the firm's finance practice in Hong Kong before relocating back to London in 2014.

His experience includes work for HSBC and Bank of China among other syndicated lenders on a facility provided to COFCO Group for its acquisition of Nidera Capital and Nobel Agri; advice to Bank of America Merill Lynch on the financing of the acquisition of Avant Homes by Angelo Gordon, Alchemy and Avenue Europe; and advice to HSBC, ANZ, Credit Agricole, Natixis and DZ in relation to the restructuring of the debt obligations of Saigon Premier Container Terminal.

Latham's focus in London in the past few years has been on enhancing its private equity team, with an example being the hire of Clifford Chance trio David Walker, Kem Ihenacho and Tom Evans.