DLA Piper duo switch to West End boutique

Both will join the firm as partners with Javaid heading up Simons' employment team. DLA Piper consultant Dennis Taylor will also move with the duo to become Simons' head of in-house training, human resources consultancy and information services.

Javaid was head of litigation services at the Commission for Racial Equality before moving to DLA Piper six years ago. During his spell at the firm he was handed a brief to oversee the firm's equality and diversity group. Clients he has acted for include the London Development Agency (LDA) and the London Borough of Newham.

Taylor, an experienced employment tribunal member, previously held senior HR positions at several UK companies including Tesco and was formerly head of training within the equality and diversity group at DLA Piper.

Following the hires Simons has 10 partners and five employment lawyers.

Simons senior partner Anthony Burton said he hoped the experience of Javaid, Keen and Taylor would help build the firm's reputation as a "progressive" law firm.

The moves mark rare partner departures for DLA Piper, which has become well-known for making lateral hires as part of a rapid growth spurt over recent years. Last week the firm added to its engineering and construction group with the hire of Campbell Hooper partner Stuart Jordan in London.

DLA Piper national head of UK employment Tim Marshall said: "Makbool made a valuable contribution to our diversity and discrimination practice and we wish him and Ewen well in their new roles. Our practice, under the new leadership of Sandra Wallace, will continue to be one of our core specialisms and strengths."