Cobbetts is continuing a push into the Birmingham property market with the hire of a partner from DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.

Adrian Watson was the former head of DLA Piper’s Birmingham property team, where he specialises in commercial property work. He will make the move to Cobbetts in August.

The hire comes just months after Cobbetts announced that it had appointed Hammonds’ Birmingham head of construction James Bessey and fellow partner Mark Robinson to join the team.

Cobbetts opened in Birmingham on 1 May 2004, when it merged with Midlands stalwart Lee Crowder, and has since expanded further with several lateral hires. As well as Bessey and Robinson, the firm has appointed three other new partners – IP specialist Mauro Paiano from Martineau Johnson, German commercial lawyer Jan Becher from Busse & Miessen, and Hammonds assistant Helen Davies Williams to the pensions department.

Managing partner Michael Shaw said Watson’s arrival heralded further commitment both to Birmingham and to Cobbetts’ property team nationally.

He added: “We’re hiring the right people for the job, and Adrian will fit in really well and contribute to what we’re trying to do in Birmingham.”