Watson Burton raids local rival for private client chief

Newcastle firm Watson Burton has bolstered its private client department with the appointment the head of private client at local rival Hay & Kilner.

Keith Hately, who joined Watson Burton on Monday (8 December), will co-head the firm’s private client department alongside current head Kris Andersen.

Commenting on Hately’s appointment Watson Burton senior partner Andrew Hoyle said: “We hired Keith because we saw an opportunity to provide private client services in the North East. We believe that in recruiting him we now have two of the best private client lawyers in the region.”

“Keith joined us because he shares the same view and thought that this was a great opportunity,” added Hoyle.

Hately’s appointment takes the number of fee earners in Watson Burton’s private client department to ten.