Cobbetts' 11-lawyer family law team has quit the national firm to join Manchester rival DWF, it was announced today (25 April).

The group, which includes partners David Pickering, James Maguire and Lesley Smythe, will join DWF's Manchester headquarters next month with eight additional lawyers and three support staff.

The new team specialises in matrimonial law including divorce and complex financial settlements, pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation disputes, civil partnerships and same-sex relationships.

The departure marks the end of Cobbetts' family law capability. However, the top 50 firm will continue to run a scaled-down private client practice covering tax and trusts.

The hires will come as a major boost for DWF, which brokered a merger deal with northwest outfit Ricksons late last year.

That move, which created a firm with more than 100 partners, followed a difficult period for the firm, which closed its Warrington office in 2005, effectively marking the end of its re-mortgaging business in the region.

Commenting on the latest hires, DWF managing partner Andrew Leaitherland said: "Following our recent merger with Ricksons, we are focusing on our plans for continued growth and lateral hires in key premium areas such as family, are an important part of our strategy."