Halliwells is to launch a major revamp of its structure that will see the Manchester firm ditch its 16 dedicated practice groups and merge them into new umbrella departments.

The overhaul, which is due to take effect on 1 May, sees the firm, which has four offices, set up six primary practice groups.

The six teams are: employment, IP; commerce and technology; corporate; corporate recovery; trusts and estates; real estate; and dispute resolution – which will incorporate commercial litigation and insurance.

Halliwells managing partner Ian Austin said the reorganisation would help the firm "adopt a more corporate structure".

The structural changes come as the 95-partner firm hires former Eversheds corporate criminal specialist Chris Morrison to head up its new regulatory and environ-mental team, which will be part of the new dispute resolution practice group.

Morrison, who joins as a partner, has previously advised on cases for the Health and Safety Executive and the Food Standards Agency and will work under national dispute resolution head Chris Phillips.

The shake-up comes after a busy 12 months for Halliwells, which opened its fourth UK office in November after merging with Liverpool practice Cuff Roberts.