Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has hired Macfarlanes head of financial services David Berman.

Berman joins Quinn Emanuel’s London office as a partner to bolster its regulatory and white-collar practice.

He is Quinn Emanuel’s sixth lateral hire in London this year, having also hired Herbert Smith Freehills partner James Bremen to launch a construction disputes group; DLA Piper City competition head Kate Vernon; DLA Russian litigation partner Nick Marsh; Clyde & Co litigator Paul Friedman; and Covington & Burling white-collar and corporate investigations partner Robert Amaee.

Managing partner John Quinn said Berman’s background in finance, regulatory matters and internal investigations “makes him the perfect fit for our white collar and investigations practice”, adding it was the fastest growing practice area at the firm.

Berman advises financial institutions on regulatory and compliance issues, counselling boards and senior management teams on internal investigations and regulatory enforcement issues.

He joined Macfarlanes in 2009 from investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort in what was a rare lateral hire for the firm – its first in two years. His appointment saw Macfarlanes push into the regulatory sector.

Quinn Emanuel has been growing its European offices in recent years. Earlier this month it emerged the firm was in talks to hire a three-partner team from Shearman & Sterling in Brussels, in a deal that has yet to be completed.