By David French

NEW YORK, May 14 (Reuters) - Lazard LAZ.N is set to hire Brian McCabe from JPMorgan Chase & Co JPM.N to head the investment bank's energy practice in North America, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

McCabe, a veteran oil and gas dealmaker focused on mergers and acquisitions involving pipeline and other midstream companies, resigned from his senior role at JPMorgan in recent days, the sources said.

Houston-based McCabe will start as head of North America energy investment banking in the coming months, following a period known as gardening leave. He will report to George Bilicic, Lazard's global head of power, energy and infrastructure, added the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private information.

JPMorgan and Lazard declined to comment.

The hiring of McCabe is the latest by Lazard in its power, energy and infrastructure group, as it seeks to bolster its capabilities at a time of heightened interest in the space. Among the tailwinds boosting deal flow are the boom in energy-hungry infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence, as well as increased exporting of American oil and natural gas.

Lazard said last week it had hired former Western Midstream Partners WES.N Chief Executive Michael Ure as a senior adviser to its energy division.

McCabe is returning to Lazard, having worked at the bank between 2004 and 2007, according to the website of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He joined JPMorgan in 2021 from Credit Suisse, and he has also worked at Morgan Stanley MS.N during a nearly 30-year career.