Hill Dickinson has bolstered its partnership with the hire of a DLA Piper partner in Sheffield and a Kennedys insurance litigator in Manchester.

Tim Littler joined Hill Dicks' Sheffield banking and finance late last month from DLA, where he was a member of the firm's Leeds restructuring group.

The hire comes amid a growth drive for Hill Dickinson in Sheffield, with the firm having recently taken an additional 5,500 sq ft of office space in the city centre.

Sheffield office head Neil Thompson commented: "Tim's appointment illustrates our dedication to further developing our banking and finance offering in Sheffield. This is a strategic appointment and Tim brings not only a wealth of experience but also specialised local knowledge and great contacts."

Elsewhere, Hill Dicks has also recruited insurance litigation partner Mark Dickson (pictured) from Kennedys.

Dickson's practice focuses on high value injury claims, and he has particular expertise in cases involving paraplegia, amputation and post-traumatic stress disorder injuries.

The news comes after Hill Dickinson recently announced a strong financial performance for the 2010-11 financial year, with revenue rising 15% from £87.1m to £100.1m alongside a 9% hike in profits per equity partner to £272,000.