Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired a partner from RPC to boost its technology practice in London. 

Peter Sugden is joining the San Francisco-based firm three years after making partner at RPC. His is the third partner-level lateral hire secured by the firm in London this year, following the additions of data privacy advisor Kelly Hagedorn from Jenner & Block in April and employee and incentives specialist Anna Humphrey from Taylor Wessing in January. 

Sugden focuses his practice on advising tech companies and investors on venture capital, M&A and private equity matters. His clients at RPC included Mobeus Equity Partners, which he has advised on a series of investments in UK edtech business MyTutor.

Orrick said his arrival reinforced its status as one of the most active venture capital practices in the UK. 

Shawn Atkinson, co-leader of Orrick’s technology companies group, said: “Pete is a rising star of exceptional quality. We are delighted to have him join our team as we continue to build out holistic solutions to support companies and investors in the European tech ecosystem.”

The firm said its venture capital team advised on nearly 500 European venture capital deals last year, helping to raise more than $20bn in capital across Europe, around 20% of total capital raised in the region. 

Partners have also departed from Orrick's London arm this year. In March, a three-partner energy and utilities team signed up with Osborne Clarke while in April structured transactions partner Richard Hanson moved across to Morgan Lewis.