Bird & Bird has lost a construction and engineering partner in London with Colin Hall set to join Winckworth Sherwood next week (1 May).

Hall, joint head of construction and engineering at Bird & Bird, was one of the partners that joined the UK top 15 firm as part of its merger with City boutique Lane & Partners in 2008.

At Winckworth he will become the third partner in the construction and engineering group, which will now have a total of six lawyers. The firm said it is planning to recruit further members for the team.

Hall, whose practice focuses on both disputes and transactional work, advises clients including developers, contractors, consultants and materials manufacturers in the construction, engineering and renewables sectors.

He made partner at Lane & Partners in 1993 and headed up the firm's construction and engineering team

Commenting on the hire, Winckworth Sherwood managing partner Roger Fitton said: "Colin's depth of experience over the past 20 years will strengthen our offering to developers, contractors, authorities and consultants in both the public and private sectors. This recruitment continues our investment in this core area of our practice."

Hall added said: "The chance to join a first class practice with such a wide and deep background in the built environment is one that I couldn't let slip by. The fit for my clients will be excellent."

Hall was one of over 30 lawyers, including six partners, who joined Bird & Bird as part of the 2008 Lane & Partners merger. His departure comes after patents specialist Michael Varvill joined patents firm Harrison Goddard Foote on 5 April.