Hammonds has lost another partner to a national rival. Leeds banking partner Kathryn Walters is negotiating her exit to join Eversheds

Walters is one of two Hammonds partners focusing on day-to-day banking work in Leeds. The firm recently lost a string of insolvency partners, including Lorinda Peasland to DLA, while London finance head Andrew Visintin quit due to ill-health.

Walters, who will join two other Leeds-based banking partners, specialises in acquisition and property finance and will act principally for banking clients at Eversheds.

The team's clients include Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Yorkshire Bank; corporate clients in-clude 02, Next, Peterhouse, Heywood Williams and Intercare.