Watson Farley wins two partners from DJ Freeman

Leading asset finance firm Watson Farley & Williams has recruited two partners from DJ Freeman.

Tax partner Christopher Comyn and corporate partner Jonathan Martin are still negotiating their departure dates. They will join Watson Farley as partners.

Comyn and Martin say that the main reason for their departures is to take advantage of Watson Farley's international reach.

Comyn has been with DJ Freeman for 13 years and was formerly at Norton Rose, the same firm that the founding partners of Watson Farley came from. He has therefore known Watson Farley chairman Christopher Preston for some time.

Martin has been with DJ Freeman for just under three years, after joining from Herbert Smith.

Both spread their workloads across all of DJ Freeman's specialisms: media, property and litigation, although Martin is usually based in the property services department.

At Watson Farley, Comyn will be based in the tax department and Martin in corporate. Both partners declined to discuss if they will be taking clients with them.

Watson Farley chief executive Michael Reid says: "We are well known for our strong tax department and for our finance work and Christopher fits exactly into that. And we are growing and strengthening our corporate operation and Jonathan is part of that."

Reid says that the increased emphasis on corporate is being led by client demand.

Earlier this month, DJ Freeman lost planning partner Richard Max to Olswang (The Lawyer, 5 March).