Hogan Lovells has hired a pair of finance partners from Linklaters to bolster its capital markets practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The duo include Íñigo Berrícano, who will be based in Madrid, and Alex Parkhouse, who will be based in London. Berrícano brings more than three decades of legal experience and is the only lawyer in Spain ranked Band 1 in both Chambers and Legal 500 for debt and equity capital markets. His practice spans a range of capital markets-related work, including capital raising, rights issues and IPOs, as well as debt restructuring, corporate governance and public M&A.

Parkhouse, meantime, is an experienced US securities lawyer covering a wide-range of capital markets and public M&A transactions. He specialises in advising US-listed issuers based outside the US on SEC compliance and disclosure matters.

James Doyle, global head of Hogan Lovells’ corporate and finance practice group, said: “These hires represent a significant step change and continued investment in our European capital markets offering which is a strategic priority for the firm.”

He added: “Íñigo and Alex enrich our capital markets practice, bringing depth and capacity to our existing EMEA team, alongside knowledge and experience on complex M&A, restructurings and US securities work involving multinational and listed companies.”

Berrícano joins after a second spell at Linklaters that lasted almost a quarter of a century, including nine years as managing partner of its Spanish business and most recently as division leader of its finance practice in continental Europe. He first joined Linklaters as an associate in London in 1989 before heading to Madrid to join Uria Menendez, before returning to the Magic Circle firm in 1999.

He said: “I am excited to be part of Hogan Lovells’ plans to develop and strengthen its capital markets practice in the EMEA region.”

Parkhouse arrives after 13 years at Linklaters, the past three as counsel in London.

He said: “I am excited to join Hogan Lovells’ EMEA capital markets team and its leading US securities and corporate governance practice. The firm’s commitment to driving growth in its EMEA capital markets practice, its integrated transatlantic platform and the strength of its practices and regions make it the perfect fit for me.”

A Linklaters spokesperson said: “We thank Íñigo and Alex for all their contributions to the firm and wish them all the best on this next chapter.”

In other recent lateral finance moves, A&O Shearman earlier this month hired leveraged finance partner Michel Houdayer in Paris from Latham & Watkins. Also in September, Freshfields hired senior capital markets partner Christopher DeCresce in New York from Paul Hastings, where he was vice chair of its securities and capital markets practice. And in August, Milbank hired a six-strong finance team in London from Latham & Watkins, including partner Alex Martin.