Leading banking lawyer Geoffrey Wynne of Watson Farley & Williams, who left the firm last month, will be joining City firm Denton Hall in the new year.

He will be a partner in its banking and financial group and will be in charge of initiatives to develop the practice.

Wynne has been at Watsons since 1985. His career began at Slaughter and May and he spent six years at the Royal Bank of Canada as assistant general counsel.

Wynne said: “I want to help make Denton Hall one of the most exciting and vibrant banking and finance practices around, rivalling the best in the City in many areas.”

Jonathan Tatten, managing partner at Denton Hall, said: “Geoffrey is extremely well known in the banking world. He is highly regarded as a lawyer and is someone who has an exceptional ability to look at the commercial issues and keep one step ahead.”

Watsons has not confirmed whether it will be recruiting from outside to replace Wynne. His move has reduced the number of partners in its London office to 28.