Eversheds has boosted its real estate litigation team with the hire of disputes partner Suzanne Gregson, who joins the firm from Manchester boutique Howarth Goodman Solicitors.

Gregson, who headed the litigation practice at Howarth Goodman, specialises in services for the affordable housing and registered provider sector. She has prosecuted and brought actions for housing association clients on a national basis. She joins Eversheds' Manchester office as a partner.

Head of real estate dispute resolution Paul Moorcroft said: "We are increasingly finding that development clients are keen to have lawyers with specialist knowledge, especially in social housing. This is the first time we have hired a partner with this specialism and this shows our commitment to the affordable housing sector."

Eversheds' Manchester real estate litigation practice advises several major clients, such as Axa, North West Development Agency and easyJet. The group focuses on lease-based advice for major corporates with large property portfolios and asset management for property investors as well as title and contractual disputes for commercial and residential developers and urban regeneration agencies.

The news comes one year after Eversheds lost its construction and infrastructure litigation partner Donald Warnock to Norton Rose, which hired the litigator for its City disputes practice.