DWF has recruited two former Halliwells lawyers for its commercial litigation team in Manchester.

Stephen Morris and James Lappin have joined the firm's commercial litigation practice as a partner and director respectively.

Morris (pictured) has 17 years' experience in commercial litigation, the last eight of which he spent as a partner at Halliwells.

Lappin, who joined Halliwells as a trainee in 2000, specialises in alternative dispute resolution with a particular emphasis on mediation.

DWF national litigation head Graham Dagnall said: "These appointments are a real boost to the existing team, which has a strong track record.

"It is our aim to become a top-tier firm for the provision of litigation services and this move takes a large strategic step in that direction."

The news follows the hire of three partners from Halliwells' Manchester office by DWF in September 2009.

Corporate partners James Sheridan and Frank Shephard and intellectual property partner Craig Chaplin all resigned from the firm's partnership at a time when Halliwells was understood to be holding merger talks with Manches.

Halliwells completed the break-up and sale of its business this July after deals with a number of firms were approved by the court, with the bulk of assets bought by Hill Dickinson, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and HGJ Gateley Wareing.

For more on the destinations of former Halliwells staff, see: