Morgan Lewis & Bockius has hired a 10-strong US finance litigation and regulatory team from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan.

The team is led by a trio of partners – Arjun Rao, Brian Frontino and Allen Denson – alongside a supporting cast of seven other lawyers. The team will be spread across five Morgan Lewis offices, with Rao taking up residence in Century City, while Frontino will be based in Miami and Denson in Washington. The team bring with them expertise in consumer financial services class action litigation and financial regulation.

J. Gordon Cooney, head of the firm’s litigation practice, said: “Arjun, Brian, Allen and the team bring a nationwide practice as well as ‘boots on the ground’ in key markets across the country for the consumer financial services sector. They are a strong strategic fit, complementing the work we already do and adding heft with a diversified portfolio of consumer financial products and clients.”

Rao joins after more than 11 years at Stroock, most recently as partner. He started his career as a litigation associate at Manning Leaver Bruder & Berberich. He brings with him expertise in consumer class actions and other financial services litigation, as well as advising clients on regulatory matters and government investigations.

Frontino joins after 22 years of service at Stroock, where he started his career back in 2001. His practice focuses on financial services litigation, regulation and enforcement, advising financial services companies who are facing consumer complaints and class actions.

Denson, meantime, arrives after just under two years at Stroock, having joined from Venable and Hudson Cook. He also spent nearly five years as a senior attorney in the enforcement and compliance division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. He specialises in representing financial institutions on a wider range of regulatory matters.

Rao said: “Consumer protection is a hot button issue that needs a comprehensive approach, which we believe Morgan Lewis brings to the table for clients.”

It is the second time in just over a year that Stroock has suffered a sizeable departure following the exit of an 18-strong restructuring team to Paul Hastings in March 2022.

In a statement, Stroock said it maintains an experienced bench of attorneys in its financial services litigation, regulation and enforcement group.