DAC Beachcroft has made a seven-lawyer hire from US firm Sedgwick’s London office, including insurance partner Mark Kendall.

Kendall and insurance partner Duncan Strachan, along with four lawyers and a legal and language support person, will join the firm’s London office in January 2018 after Sedgwick ceases operations.

The two partners both have experience in the Latin American market, a key jurisdiction to DAC Beachcroft’s international strategy.

Kendall led Sedgwick’s Latin American group since 2014, while Strachan has worked on litigation across the region as well as spending six months on secondment in Miami earlier in his career.

DAC Beachcroft managing partner David Pollitt said: “By leveraging our strong insurance platform, this talented new team will be able to help us to attract even more of the complex, high-value work with which our clients entrust us both in London and also internationally, particularly in Latin America.”

The firm has made no secret of its desire for an increased presence across Latin America and, earlier this week, announced its latest association in the region. Argentinian firm López Saavedra & Villarroel Abogados became DAC Beachcroft’s 11th associate firm in the region, bringing three more partners into the firm’s stable.

Sedgwick has suffered a series of partner raids in recent months.

Kennedys has made a series of raids on the US firms New York, Chicago and Bermuda offices, while RPC made its own two-partner hire in London.

Further exits are expected to be announced as Clyde & Co is keen expand its west coast presence, highlighting the firm’s three Californian offices.