Private equity firm 3i has snared General Electric (GE) senior managing director Kevin Dunn to take up the post of general counsel following the planned retirement of its general counsel Tony Brierley.

Dunn, who joins the LSE-listed group today will be responsible for the group’s legal, compliance and internal audit functions and will oversee a team of 16 lawyers.

“Dunn brings with him outstanding experience and expertise that will help build on 3i’s international success to date,” said 3i chairperson, Baroness Sarah Hogg of the appointment.

He will also take up the role as company secretary and member of 3i’s management committee.

Prior to his role as senior managing director at GE, where he managed the European leveraged finance business for GE’s commercial division, Dunn had been European general counsel for GE commercial finance where he built up a legal team of 75 lawyers across 11 countries.

Dunn, who joined GE in 2002, had previously been partner in the banking and finance unit at Latham & Watkins and prior to that Travers Smith.

Dunn will be busy. 3i’s director Mark Sibson yesterday announced intentions to invest $700m-800m (£336m-384m) in the oil and gas sectors in Asia over the next few years.