The Paris office of global firm Paul Hastings has announced the appointment of a new partner to head up its finance practice. Joining him in the journey across the city will be a team of three further lawyers.

Olivier Vermeulen joins the firm from King & Wood Mallesons, Paris, where he had held the same position since 2011. Previous tenures include roles at Latham & Watkins in Doha and Paris, and White & Case. Vermeulen began his career as an associate at Paul Hastings in 2000.

Vermeulen boasts broad capabilities, with experience in debt restructuring, M&A, private equity, leveraged finance, structured finance and Islamic finance. Recent mandates include advising Unigrains on financing the acquisition of the Labeyrie Group by Lur Berri and LBO France for €335 million, and Astorg partners with the acquisition of FCI Microconnections from Bain Capital.

The appointment in Paris follows a series of lateral hires by the US based firm. Recent months have seen appointments in London, Frankfurt and São Paulo. Earlier this week the firm secured the signature of William Brady from Proskauer Rose to enhance the finance practice in New York.