Latham & Watkins has hired its second partner from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan – financial regulatory lawyer David Berman.

Berman joined Quinn Emanuel just last year from Macfarlanes, where he had served as its financial services head.

He was the first partner recruited by Quinn Emanuel from a non-contentious background after a spate of lateral hires in the litigation sector.

Berman is set to join Latham next week, becoming a partner in its financial institutions group.

He was a partner at Macfarlanes for seven years, joining the UK elite firm from Dresdner Kleinwort where he had been a managing director. He started off his legal career at Berwin Leighton Paisner.

Recent work includes advising on the Senior Managers & Certification Regime, assisting with regulatory reform projects and overseeing complex remediation and redress exercises.

Quinn’s London co-managing partner Richard East said: “David has unfortunately decided that his practice is best suited to a full service law firm. We are very disappointed to see him go, but wish him very well.

“He was the first partner we’d hired In London from a non-contentious background as we viewed his financial services advisory practice as being a good fit with our existing buy side litigation expertise. But it didn’t work out.

“We thank him for having the courage and the entrepreneurial flair to give it a go.

“However, our growth and plans for the future remain undimmed. We are now 60 lawyers in London and we will continue to add talent and hire where we see added value.”

Berman’s move follows that of long-serving Quinn Emanuel partner Martin Davies, who was hired by Latham earlier this year.

Davies had joined Quinn Emanuel from Olswang in 2011, where he led the firm’s litigation practice. Clients include investment managers, private equity houses, stockbroking firms and credit funds.

Latham’s financial regulatory group has been subject to major expansion in London in the past 12 months.

Last summer, Latham brought on board Ashurst practice head Rob Moulton to ramp up the firm’s efforts in this area. It then hired Moulton’s colleague Nicola Higgs in a further boost to the team.