Top 50 US firm K&L Gates has made a twin partner hire from Baker McKenzie to strengthen its investment funds and white collar practices in New York.

The duo include Jennifer Klass and Amy Greer, who both co-chaired Bakers’ North American financial regulation and enforcement practice. Klass joins the asset management and investment funds (AMIF) practice, while Greer joins its white collar defence and investigations practice.

Klass brings with her extensive financial services regulatory experience, advising brokers, private equity sponsors and investment advisers on matters such as fiduciary duty and conflicts of interest, disclosures and transactions. Greer advises financial services businesses and reporting companies on regulatory investigations and examinations, as well as internal investigations. Her client list spans brokers, advisers, hedge funds, mutual funds, traders and accountants.

Michael Caccese, K&L Gates chairman and leader of its AMIF practice, said: “The addition of Jen and Amy to our AMIF and white collar defence practices enhances the scope and services we deliver to our clients. These two leaders in the industry expand the level of regulatory advice, guidance, insight and service that our clients expect.”

Klass joins after almost four years at Bakers, having previously spent more than 12 years at Morgan Lewis & Bockius during a second spell at the firm following a three-year stint as an associate general counsel at Goldman Sachs. Her first spell at Morgan Lewis lasted six years, having started her career working in the legal department at SEI Investments.

Like Klass, Greer also moved to Bakers from Morgan Lewis, where she was a partner in its securities litigation and enforcement practice. Prior to that, she spent six years as a partner at Reed Smith, co-leading its securities litigation and enforcement practice. She also spent five years as a regional trial counsel at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where she was chief of litigation for the SEC’s mid-Atlantic regional office. She started her legal career in private practice at Eckert Seamans in 1989, before co-founding Bower Greer & Panzarella in 1997. She then left for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in 2000 before joining the SEC in 2003.

John Bicks, managing partner of K&L Gates’ New York office, said: “Each is an established and respected leader in their area of practice, and their addition to the firm strengthens our abilities in these important practice areas.”

Earlier this year, K&L Gates hired a trio of senior funds partners from Pinsent Masons, Dillon Eustace and Maples & Calder to launch in Dublin, its ninth European office.

Other firms have also been seeking to strengthen their regulatory and funds capabilities in recent months. In June, Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer hired Goodwin Procter partner Tim Clark to head its global funds team. In May, Morgan Lewis hired a 10-strong US litigation and regulatory team from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. And in April, Paul Hastings hired Kirkland & Ellis partner John Budetti to lead its global investment funds and private capital practice.