Halliwells continues DLA Piper sorties

Halliwells has hired another partner from DLA Piper as it continues an ongoing assault on its larger rival.

Former Sheffield head of corporate Neil Thompson has been at DLA Piper since 1983 and headed the corporate team for eight years.

This is the latest in a series of hires of DLA Piper lawyers by Halliwells in recent months. Other partners to make the move include Beverley Bentley, Jonathan Brown, Richard Capper, Colin Gibbons, Paul Jefferson, Fiona Parry and Craig Scott.

Former head of property litigation at DLA Piper's Liverpool office Kevin Lee also moved to Halliwells at the end of last year (www.thelawyer. com, 16 November 2007).

Thompson's move marks the launch of Halliwells' corporate practice in Sheffield. The firm aims to establish itself as a leading corporate firm in South Yorkshire.

His recent responsibilities include acting as one of three UK partners on DLA Piper's global M&A task group and being chairman of the Sheffield office's cross-selling committee. He also advised on the £74.5m sale of Corus's forgings division and the management buyout of Sheffield Forgemasters.

DLA Piper Sheffield managing partner Steve Sly said: "Neil's been with the firm for 24 years. He was replaced as location head of our corporate department in Sheffield in 2005 and Richard May was appointed to lead the Sheffield corporate team. We thank Neil for his contribution over the years and wish him well as he takes on a new challenge."