Addleshaw Goddard and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) have both appointed senior associates from magic circle firms as partners, as the UK's mid-tier continues to target top tier City lawyers keen for promotion.

Addleshaws has appointed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer senior associate Catherine McAllister as its first London-based pensions partner as the firm aims to expand its capability in the sector.

McAllister has 10 years' post-qualification experience and specialises in pensions advice for listed companies and corporate issues. She will work with the firm's three-partner pensions team, which is based in the firm's Manchester and Leeds offices, which are headed by Leeds pensions partner Rachel Rawnsley.

BLP, meanwhile, has hired Clifford Chance (CC) senior associate Robert Bindless to join its real estate team as a partner.

Bindless qualified in 1996 at Hammonds, joined Macfarlanes in 1997 and then moved to CC's real estate department in 1999. Deals he has acted on include advising ABN Amro on the £175m sale of its London headquarters, 250 Bishopsgate, last year.

Bindless will be based in the real estate department but will work closely with securitisation partners Tamara Box, Tom Church and Paul Severs.

The hire comes as the firm attempts to strengthen links between its finance and real estate departments. BLP head of real estate Robert MacGregor told Legal Week that Bindless will act as a bridge between the two teams.