Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) is set to lose City finance partner Andrew Baird, who is returning to his previous firm Watson Farley & Williams.

Baird, who was a partner with Watson Farley until 2001, was seen as a symbolic hire for BLP when he joined in November of that year, as his hire was a first step in the then newly-merged firm's plans to grow its finance capability.

Baird, whose legal practice focuses on shipping finance as well as asset and structured finance and Islamic finance, will join Watson Farley's London office as a partner in the international shipping finance practice, which currently has 10 partners in London and 23 firmwide.

Commenting on the hire, Watson Farley managing partner Michael Greville said: "Andrew is someone we have known for a long time and he will help bulk up our shipping finance practice as well as adding some capital markets and structured finance experience."

For BLP, the departure comes amid the firm's recent push to strengthen its finance practice. The City law firm shook up the management of the team for the first time in more than 10 years when it appointed ex-Linklaters partner Matthew Kellett as its new practice head in September this year. Kellett joined in April from Royal Bank of Scotland.

BLP said in a statement: "We are disappointed that Andrew has chosen to return to Watson Farley, particularly at such an exciting stage in the growth of our finance practice. However, given his history with the firm, we understand his reasons for doing so and respect his decision."