Clifford Chance has hired an energy and infrastructure partner duo from Latham & Watkins to strengthen its project financing capabilities.

The pair include Craig Nethercott and Chirag Sanghrajka who join in London and Dubai respectively. Nethercott brings with him almost three decades of experience in banking, capital markets and Islamic finance, advising energy and infrastructure companies on a range of project financings. Sanghrajka adds 16 years of experience advising on energy and infrastructure projects and complex financings, including export credit agency-led deals.

Russell Wells, global head of energy at Clifford Chance, said: “[Nethercott and Sanghrajka] bring such impressive experience and will strengthen our energy and infrastructure offering to clients. Their combined expertise spans energy and infrastructure work across the UK, Middle East, Europe and Africa and their appointments reflect our continued investment in this growing sector, particularly following our expansion in Houston.”

Nethercott spent almost 14 years as a partner at Latham, based in London and Dubai. He previously spent more than 15 years at White & Case, seven of them as partner. Sanghrajka, meantime, joins after 13 years at Latham. He started his career at Slaughter and May.

A spokesperson for Latham & Watkins commented: “We thank Craig and Chirag for their contributions to the firm and wish them all the best for the future.”

Clifford Chance opened a Houston office in June to target energy work. The Magic Circle firm said it intends to install a 10-partner team, which included a target of seven lateral hires – two of whom have already arrived from Latham – and a trio of current Clifford Chance partners who are relocating from New York and Paris.

Last year, the firm lost the co-head of its global infrastructure group Toby Parkinson to Kirkland & Ellis in London.

Other firms have also been beefing up their energy and infrastructure ranks in recent months. Earlier in September, Hogan Lovells added an infrastructure and energy team in Berlin from Dentons, including two partners.

In August, Allen & Overy hired Paul Hastings partner Kfir Abutbul in Houston to head up its US energy private equity business.

In July, Gibson Dunn added a nine-lawyer projects and infrastructure team from Linklaters in Paris, including partner Darko Adamovic. 

And in June, Greenberg Traurig hired partner Shashank Krishna from Baker Botts to lead its London energy team.