Addleshaw Goddard has boosted its Manchester corporate team with the hire of a partner from DLA Piper.

Neal Shepherd, who has been at DLA in 1992 and made partner in 1996, is set to join Addleshaws at the end of August. He specialises in private equity work and M&A, and will become Addleshaws' 38th corporate partner across its three offices in Manchester, Leeds and London.

Shepherd marks the second recent hire for the firm's Manchester office, after Cobbetts real estate partner Stephen Kinsey joined on 31 May. Taylor Wessing commercial partner Andrew Smith also joined the firm in London last month.

Addleshaws corporate head Philip Goodstone commented: "Neal's reputation and track record in the northwest deals market are outstanding. Our team had had another fantastic year and we look forward to building on that momentum with Neal alongside us."

The hire comes after Addleshaws announced its financial results last month (24 May), reporting a 3% decrease in revenue and a 16% fall in profits. The firm also announced that it was overhauling its management board and structure, with up to 40 jobs set to be cut across its business services function.