Hammonds falls prey to DWF swoop for real estate team

DWF has taken on a real estate team from Hammonds as the firm continues to implement its aggressive growth strategy.

Hammonds real estate litigation partner Andrew Todd and associate Sophie Lawton are set to join DWF's Leeds office.

DWF managing partner Andrew Leaitherland told The Lawyer: "These hires show our commitment to Leeds and also to real estate and litigation. Both practice areas will see major investment going forward.

"We also want both Leeds and Preston to become full commercial services offerings. We'll invest into both with the right quality people."

Todd, who will join DWF as a partner, is a partner in Hammonds' Leeds property disputes advisory service team. He has been a partner at Hammonds since 2005.

DWF merged with Ricksons on 1 January, creating a firm with an annual turnover of more than £50m, employing around 800 people in four cities - Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.