Hill Dickinson company commercial practice group head and Manchester office head David Wareing has been appointed as the firm's new senior partner.

Wareing is set to take over the senior partner role from Tony Wilson on 30 April, with Wilson to remain with the firm as an insurance partner in the firm's Liverpool office. Wilson has served as senior partner since 2001.

Wareing, who will serve a five year term, was managing partner of Hill Dickinson from 1998 to 2005. He will be the firm's first senior partner not to be based in Liverpool.

He told Legal Week: "That reflects the changing nature of the business. Hill Dickinson is not a Liverpool business but is strong across the northern region and with a rapidly expanding London presence. The election served to highlight how the firm is developing and changing locationally."

Wareing played a key role in Hill Dickinson's acquisition of Halliwells' Sheffield and Liverpool operations last year, comprising 89 staff in Liverpool and 36 in Sheffield.

Commenting on the appointment, managing partner Peter Jackson said: "I look forward to working with David as we continue to develop and enhance the firm.

"He will be an excellent ambassador for Hill Dickinson, having such an in-depth knowledge of our scope and capabilities, and a real drive to promote and support the achievement of our expert teams."

It has not yet been determined who will replace Wareing as head of the company commercial practice group.