Addleshaw Goddard has hired six partners from Irwin Mitchell to bolster its Manchester real estate team.

The partners include Irwin Mitchell's Manchester real estate head Anita Weightman, alongside real estate partners Paul Barnard, Patrick Duffy, Chris Perrin, Tony Weightman and Emily Williams.

It is currently unknown when the partners will start at Addleshaws.

Addleshaws Manchester real estate head Peter Kershaw said: "Commitment to the real estate market and growing local market share are at the heart of these appointments. Manchester has a key part to play in the ambitious strategy we have set for ourselves to service new clients and deepen some of our existing institutional relationships, as well as looking after the businesses in our local markets."

Irwin Mitchell's Manchester real estate team will now be headed up by real estate partner Roy Beckett, who counts Bruntwood Estates, Bank of New York Mellon and Chethams among his clients.

A spokesperson for Irwin Mitchell said: "We'd like to thank the partners who are leaving for their contribution during their time with Irwin Mitchell and wish them well in the future.

"We recently changed the leadership team in our Business Legal Services division and in real estate we have a clear direction and focus following the arrival of new national head of department, Adrian Barlow."

Weightman joins Addleshaws after five years with Irwin Mitchell. She was previously Manchester real estate head at DLA Piper for 10 years, and specialises in commercial real estate, with an emphasis on investment and development.

The news comes after Addleshaws hired an eight-lawyer construction team from DWF in Manchester. The appointments included DWF's national head of construction and its Manchester head of construction, alongside six associates.

In August 2016, Irwin Mitchell's London real estate practice was hit by the resignations of five partners, including a four-partner team that joined Dentons.