Shoosmiths has added a partner to its asset finance practice with the hire of Melanie Chell from HBJ Gateley Wareing.

Chell joined the national firm's Birmingham's office last month as a partner and will lead the asset finance fraud practice, working closely with asset finance head Joanne Davis. The team sits within the firm's lender services group.

She joins from the Northampton office of HBJ, where she was a banking and asset finance litigation partner.

The move marks Chell's return to Shoosmiths, where she began her career as a trainee in 1998, leaving to join Lester Aldridge as an associate in 2004 before going on to HBJ as a partner in 2007.

Davis said: "We're absolutely delighted to have Melanie on board because she brings with her remarkable industry knowledge, and adds strength and depth to our current offering.

She added: "Our asset finance team is growing fast and we're now able to offer a full service to clients. It's a genuine one-stop shop for asset finance."

Meanwhile Browne Jacobson has expanded its disputes offering with the hire of HBJ's Kate Andrews as a partner to head up the London real estate litigation team.

Andrews was an associate at HBJ, where she also led the firm's London real estate litigation team.

She focuses on acting for developers, funders and high net worth individuals with previous clients including Persimmon Homes, Land Securities, Blackrock and Capital and Regional.