Before Pillsbury, Mr Petkovic was a partner and a member of the international committee at Chadbourne & Parke, primarily concentrating on project finance and emerging markets transactions. He has a particular focus on central and eastern Europe, with extensive expertise in the energy sector.

Also joining from Pillsbury is Morana Vucinic. She is a New York qualified lawyer who has previously worked for the Croatian Ministry of Finance and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Mr Petkovic said: “The firm has a clear strategic direction, building from its business in London and the east coast of the US, and has been growing in all its markets in recent years. I am keen to assist in their further international plans. Moreover, the amount of finance and projects work flowing from their entrepreneurial and institutional client base in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe and Asia, is impressive, as demonstrated by their work on KazakhGold.”