Olswang seizes chance to expand as rival law firm withdraws from sector
DJ Freeman is to abandon property work and focus solely on insurance and commercial litigation.
Rival law firm Olswang has recruited the entire DJ Freeman property team, including former chief executive Jonathan Lewis, one of the most highly rated property lawyers in the business.
As a result of the move, which also involves the departure of DJ Freeman’s technology & media team to Olswang, DJ Freeman will rebrand as Kendal Freeman – incorporating the name of David Kendall, its head of insurance.
The 13 partners and 38 staff from DJ Freeman will begin work at Olswang’s new HQ at 90 High Holborn, WC1, from 1 May. The move doubles the size of its property division.
The merged property team will include leading DJ Freeman property lawyer Graham Barber – brother of Capital & Regional chief executive Martin Barber – and tax expert Graham Chase.
Olswang chief executive Jonathan Goldstein said negotiations for the deal were carried out over the past fortnight and concluded on Wednesday afternoon.
He told EG he was excited at adding DJ Freeman’s long list of property clients – including CGNU, Argent, Benchmark and Land Securities – to his own clients, such as Delancey, Helical Bar and Minerva.
“We are already a leading firm in property but will now become the market leader for institutional and property company clients,” he said. “Property has so far made up around 15% of our work and will now be taken to closer to 25%.”
DJ Freeman chief executive Laurence Harris said the decision followed an extensive strategic review.
He said: “It leaves the firm free to concentrate on its highly rated litigation and corporate business in the insurance sector, and its commercial litigation and public international law practice.”
He added: “Both our property and technology & media practices have some great lawyers and clients, but there was an insufficient strategic fit with the ongoing business.”
Toby Greenbury, senior partner at DJ Freeman, also joins Olswang and will sit on the management board.
Last week, DJ Freeman’s property finance team, thought to be one of the more profitable groups, left for a new home at law firm DLA.
