Squire Sanders has boosted its Manchester pensions group with the hire of highly regarded partner David Griffiths from Eversheds' local office.

Griffiths, who joined Eversheds in 2006 from Hill Dickinson, has handled work for clients including Young's Brewery and Thomas Cook, and also has experience advising on public sector outsourcing.

His appointment brings the number of pensions partners at Squire Sanders to 16. The transatlantic firm has around 60 pensions lawyers working in the UK, concentrated primarily in Birmingham, London and Leeds.

Global group head Catherine McKenna commented: "David is well established, very experienced and well known in the Manchester market. He has the kind of specialist know-how and commercial approach to client advice that makes for such a strong fit with our pensions practice."

The hire of Griffiths from Eversheds comes not long after Squire Sanders saw a trio of pension partners move in the opposite direction, with former global practice group chief Francois Barker leaving to head up Eversheds' Birmingham pensions team late last year.

Barker was followed to Eversheds in February by partner duo Emma King and Sarah Franklin, who also worked in Squire Sanders' Birmingham office.

Squire Sanders also last year saw London pensions partner Fraser Sparks leave to join Stephenson Harwood.