Scottish stalwart Harper Macleod has bagged a new partner from regional giant Dundas & Wilson, as the Glasgow firm moves to beef up its real estate practice.

David Steel joins the 31-partner outfit this month from big four firm Dundas, where he was a senior partner in the commercial property practice.

Steel, who specialises in development and property acquisition work, has previously advised clients such as Royal Bank of Scotland and Land Securities.

He will now work as part of Harper Macleod's 16-lawyer real estate practice, which is headed up by partner Graeme Nisbet and acts for a client roster featuring Barclays and the Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive.

The hire is the latest evidence that the Scottish firm has stepped up its hiring policy after the arrival late last year of property partner Fraser Hardie, who joined from the local arm of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Dundas rival McGrigors has moved to plug the gap left by the departure of public policy chief Adam Bruce, who quit last month to take up a chief executive role at energy group and key McGrigors client Airtricity.

Alastair Ross joins the firm this month in the role of director of its specialist public policy unit, which advises clients including Sainsbury's on public affairs and key legislation.

Ross joins from HBOS, although he has been on secondment with the Scottish Parliament for the past 18 months.