Stephenson Harwood has secured a boost for its projects practice with a double partner hire from Eversheds.

Eversheds London projects head Jonathan Cripps and commercial contracts, projects and infrastructure partner Rebecca Carter are set to leave the firm to join Stephenson Harwood later this year.

Stephenson Harwood would not confirm the date that the pair would start at the firm, except to say that they would join "in due course".

In the meantime, Eversheds partner Michael Grimes will continue to take overall responsibility for the firm's UK projects and infrastructure teams.

As head of the London projects team at Eversheds, Cripps handled both public and private sector work, acting on national and international project financings, PFI/PPP and outsourcing projects.

Carter specialises in PFI, PPP and outsourcing projects and has ten years' experience advising on projects in the education, health and emergency services sectors.

The hires come after Stephenson Harwood recruited two partners for its City real estate practice last year with the addition of Neil Murray from Travers Smith and Jonathon Wilkes from Wragge & Co.

Meanwhile, Eversheds saw two partners depart the firm in January this year with Newcastle corporate finance duo Ian Gilthorpe and Alan Fletcher leaving to set up a local boutique.