Hill Dicks snaps up DLA Piper team

NORTH West law firm Hill Dickinson has acquired most of DLA Piper’s Manchester and Sheffield-based defendant insurance practice.

The team, which will move over to Hill Dickinson at the end of February, is around 30-strong and includes three partners.

The practice, which has a turnover of approximately £2m, has a strong capability and specialism in disease cases. The majority of staff are based in Sheffield, with just two part-time staff and a secretary located in Manchester.

In what Liverpool-based Hill Dickinson said was a “strategic move” the DLA Piper team’s client base, which includes high profile insurers and corporate clients, will, subject to their agreement transfer their defendant insurance matters across to it.

The news comes following DLA Piper’s announcement that it is to divest parts of its defendant insurance practice across Sheffield, Manchester and Birmingham.

Hill Dickinson managing partner Peter Jackson said: “This is a significant acquisition for the firm and one that will further enhance our insurance offering.

“The improvement of our relationship with mainstream insurers is a priority for our insurance business and this deal will help us to meet this objective. We look forward to welcoming the new team members on board and to optimising the opportunities they bring with them for the firm.”

Hill Dickinson’s head of insurance, Ruth Lawrence, added: “As in line with business objectives we will see immediate growth in our insurer client base and will also ensure that our clients benefit from a comprehensive and specialist service.”