Watson Farley & Williams has significantly bolstered its London office with a quadruple partner hire, including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's former Middle East and North Africa (MENA) energy and infrastructure head Charles July.

July, who has been a partner at Freshfields since 1988, will join UK top 50 firm Watson Farley later this month.

He led Freshfields' Abu Dhabi launch in 2008 after heading up the magic circle firm's Singapore office between 1992 and 1998. He is also the former head of the firm's Asia's project finance practice.

Watson Farley has also added two partners to its corporate group with the hire of Charles Russell competition and regulatory chief Emanuela Lecchi, who will now head up the competition practice at the firm.

In addition, Constellation Energy Group's former GC Mark Evans, who has 15 years' experience both in-house and in private practice in the energy sector, will join the UK top 50 firm on 17 May.

Finally, Watson Farley has recruited Robert Platt from litigation boutique Curtis Davis Garrard. Platt joins the firm's international dispute resolution group as a partner. His commercial disputes practice focuses on shipbuilding, offshore construction and power.

Watson Farley managing partner Michael Greville (pictured) commented: "We are delighted to welcome Robert, Charles, Mark and Emanuela to Watson Farley in London. These recruits are part of a deliberate strategy to expand our London office with quality, lateral hires who fit with our existing practices."