DWF London raids Weightmans for six-strong insurance team

DWF has snared a six-partner insurance team for its fledgling London office from regional rival Weightmans, including London office head Mark Whittaker.

Whittaker is joined by Innes Ebert, Perry Hill, Seema Jobanputra, Dan Mitchell and Carys Oatham, all of whom specialise in defendant personal injury and property recovery work.

The move is a blow for Weightmans, which ­recently invested in new and larger offices for its 90 staff in
the City.

Weightmans managing partner Patrick Gaul said: “London will be thriving and up on its feet in a very short time.” He added that senior partner Ian Evans will run the London office until a replacement is found.

The team’s hire is a coup for DWF, which established its London office in June this year with a duo from Davies Lavery. Managing ;partner Andrew Leaitherland told The Lawyer: “These latest appointments are in line with our plans to grow our insurance practice in the capital and further ­strengthen our capability at a national level.”