Northwest firm DWF has boosted its corporate department with the hire of a new partner from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert.

Peter Allen, who joins DWF's Manchester office, left Barlows' equity partnership in November. He has a particular focus on deals in the UK food sector, insurance and financial services.

Allen has advised on many high-profile M&A deals including UK dairy co-op First Milk's £60m acquisition of Dairy Crest's cheese business in 2006 and its subsequent proposed £1bn merger with Milk Link in 2007, as well as Teather & Greenwood's takeover by Landsbanki Holdings and Swedish company Trelleborg's £500m acquisition of the polymer sealing solutions business of Smiths Group.

DWF managing partner Andrew Leaitherland said: "This latest appointment shows that DWF is continuing to attract top legal talent and build strength in its core areas. Peter brings with him extensive experience and also some specialist legal skills. He will be a valuable addition to our corporate team and to the northwest dealmaking community as a whole."

DWF reported a 12.5% increase in fee income for first half year figures recording an income of £28m, with litigation, private client work and insurance all showing significant increases on the corresponding period last year.

During the first half of the 2008-09 financial the year, the firm launched a new office in London after Graham Dickinson and Claire Bowler brought their catastrophic injury practice to the firm, joining from Davies Lavery.