Macfarlanes has grown its corporate practice with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard partner James Dawson.

Dawson is set to join the City firm in the coming weeks, with a start date yet to be confirmed.

Prior to joining Addleshaws as a partner in 2006, Dawson was a senior associate at Linklaters. Clients he has worked with include RBS, Lehman Brothers, telecommunications company Tiscali and global brand management company Pentland Group.

He advised Tiscali on the acquisition of its UK operations by Carphone Warehouse's for £236m in May 2009.

Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin said: "We have been looking to add a really good M&A partner at James' level for a little while and he fits in with what we are looking for particularly well.

"He was originally at Linklaters and did high end M&A work there. He has also done more upper mid-market work at Addleshaws. Given that our practice spans both of these segments of the market the fit is good. We are not looking for further hires in M&A at the moment and want to prioritise growing organically."

Dawson's hire comes after a number of recent partner departures from Macfarlanes' corporate practice, with Rachel Bond leaving the firm to take up an in-house role in January this year.

Meanwhile, last year also saw funds partner Stephen Sims leave to join Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and M&A partner Garrett Hayes leave for Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker in September and June respectively.