Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Winston & Strawn LLP, the Chicago- based law firm with offices in the U.S., Asia and Europe, hired Dominick DeChiara, Bradley Vaiana and six other private-equity lawyers from Rochester, New York-based Nixon Peabody LLP.

DeChiara, who was chairman of the private-equity practice at Nixon, will serve in the same role at Winston, the firm said today in a statement. His team represents private-equity clients and their portfolio companies in middle-market corporate transactions, as well as public companies, according to the statement.

DeChiara’s team brings “a remarkable range of experience in the private equity market,” Michael Elkin, managing partner of Winston’s New York office, said in the statement.

The next year will likely bring an increase in acquisitions by companies with credit and the ability to raise equity, as well as increased lateral movement by law-firm partners, according to Stephen French, managing partner of Nashville, Tennessee-based Legalbill, which audits and analyzes the legal bills of major corporations.

“We respect Dom’s and Brad’s decision to leave the firm,” Allison McClain, a Nixon Peabody spokeswoman, said today in a statement. “We have a number of strong deal teams as part of our leading private equity practice.”

Nixon Peabody has about 25 private equity partners following the group’s departure, McClain said in an e-mail.

Winston & Strawn was the 34th-highest grossing U.S. law firm in 2008, with $745 million in revenue, according to the American Lawyer, a trade magazine.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cynthia Cotts in New York at ccotts@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 2, 2009 17:01 EST