DLA Piper has secured the hire of former Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) corporate heavyweight Patrick Somers. The firm has also hired Debevoise & Plimpton associate James O'Donnell as a partner in its London funds team.

Somers was the relationship manager for Thames Water at BLP, one of the firm's key clients. He left the UK firm in March following a restructuring of BLP's Managed Legal Services division and is joining DLA Piper's corporate practice.

Before joining BLP in 2005 Somers was a partner at Hammonds, now known as Squire Sanders. He also worked as general counsel at energy company Lattice Group.

Somers said: "I have worked closely with many of the partners at DLA Piper over the years so this feels like coming home."

His appointment comes after City corporate partner Rob Salter joined DLA Piper from BLP in May. Salter worked with key clients including Balfour Beatty and Tesco while at BLP.

Somers' move is the latest in a string of partner exits from BLP in recent weeks, which includes commercial and technology head Adam Rose, who joined Mishcon de Reya, contentious tax chief Liesl Fichardt, who was hired by Clifford Chance, and global head of private equity Raymond McKeeve, who departed for Jones Day.

Meanwhile, DLA's Debevoise recruit O'Donnell primarily advises sponsors globally in connection with the structuring and offering of international private equity funds, funds of funds and real estate funds.

He served as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy before joining the legal profession, and has worked at Debevoise since 2006.

The news comes as DLA has appointed corporate finance partner Charles Cook as its new Birmingham office managing partner, after former postholder Mark Beardmore left for Eversheds last week. Beardmore had held the position since 2011.

Cook was appointed to the role, which does not have a fixed term, following a consultation with the firm's UK management and office partnership.