Jefferies has increased its population of senior dealmakers by 23% over the past year in an aggressive recruitment spree that has seen it lift teams of bankers from rivals.

The independent investment bank has "played a lot of offense" on recruitment, a letter to employees from chief executive, Rich Handler, and chairman Brian Friedman, said. The bank now has 4,542 staff, it said, and has hired 600 people over the past 12 months — an increase of 15% — amid a battle for talent across the banking sector. Managing director numbers have risen by 23%.