By Sara Merken

April 8 (Reuters) - Longtime Cravath, Swaine & Moore private equity lawyer David Perkins has joined law firm Sidley Austin as a partner in New York, marking the latest in a string of partner hires by the firm in recent days.

Perkins co-led the private equity group at Cravath, one of Wall Street's top firms. Its website said his clients there included American Securities, Brookfield, ECN Capital, Westbrook Partners and White Mountains Insurance Group.

Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley's management committee, in a statement said Perkins has a "strong client following" and that his hire expands the firm's growing private equity work, particularly with middle-market clients.

Perkins did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Cravath spokesperson said the firm wished him well in the move.

Cravath historically rarely lost partners to rival firms or made outside partner hires. That has changed in recent years as some partners have left and others have joined.

Sidley in the past week has hired several other partners in New York, including M&A lawyers Andrew Fadale from Milbank and George Hunter from Jones Day.

The firm also brought on former Weil, Gotshal & Manges partner Amy Rubin as co-chair of its employee benefits and executive compensation practice, which sits within the firm's M&A and private equity group.

(Reporting by Sara Merken)