Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has lured corporate partner Janet Jie Tang and a three-person transactions team in Beijing away from DLA Piper, broadening the firm's practice which has been focused on international trade, energy and IP work.

The hires, which come nine months after the US firm opened the doors of its office in the Chinese capital, were aimed at providing the firm's clients with a full range of services in China. The move reduces DLA Piper's Beijing partner count to six, and ups Akin Gump's office from previously housing just one partner, Xiaohua (Sarah) Zhao.

The firm also recently added other lawyers to its offering, hiring senior IP lawyer Lien Yea-Ling, formerly president of Taipei-based legal consultancy Catch IPR, and Allen & Overy Hong Kong capital markets associate Holly Smith.