Walker Morris hires leading City lawyer to expand Equity Capital Markets practice

Walker Morris is adding to its Equity Capital Markets team with the appointment of DLA Piper’s former Co-Head of UK Equity Capital Markets, Martin Penn. Martin brings more than 20 years of experience to lead and expand a growing portfolio of mid-market public company advisory work.

Martin’s arrival maintains the momentum of London-based hires joining Walker Morris from international and City firms, including Pensions Director Danny Fowler from Fieldfisher, Planning & Infrastructure Consents Director David Wood from Hogan Lovells and Litigation Director James Smith, who arrives later this year from Freshfields.

Martin joined DLA in 2008 from Freshfields. His clients include listed companies, investors and investment banks headquartered in the UK and around the world, across a range of sectors, particularly life sciences and technology.

In addition to initial public offerings, secondary equity capital offerings, share buybacks and tender offers, Martin brings extensive experience of advising companies seeking to raise funds from investors to finance M&A activity and various matters under the UK Listing Rules. He also advises on private capital funding structures, public M&A joint ventures and corporate restructuring, as well as general corporate advisory and governance work.

He has been recognised as a Leading Partner in Equity Capital Markets by Legal 500 for the last four years.

Richard Naish, Head of Corporate at Walker Morris, said: “Martin is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading equity capital markets lawyers, and his appointment significantly enhances our ability to support listed companies, investors and ambitious businesses at every stage of their growth journey. Martin’s arrival reflects both the strength of our Corporate practice today and our ambition to continue attracting high-value, complex work from across the UK and internationally.”

Martin Penn, Equity Capital Markets Partner at Walker Morris, added: “With recent market reforms creating increasing momentum in the equity capital markets, it’s an exciting time to join the Corporate team at Walker Morris. I’m looking forward to helping further develop the firm’s equity capital solutions offering across the public and private securities markets.

“The chance to help shape and grow the firm’s equity capital markets offering, work on high-quality, complex transactions, and do so as part of a collaborative and ambitious team was a key attraction. On a personal level, the opportunity to live and work in Yorkshire was a significant draw.”

Martin’s appointment comes as Walker Morris continues to invest in its Corporate practice and broader strategic growth plans. His arrival increases the total number of Partners in the team to seven.

In the year ending 30 April 2026, the firm delivered fees of just over £90m, representing 11% growth on the previous year and profit per equity partner of more than £1.1m. Having achieved 65% fee growth since 2020/21, the firm remains on track to deliver its Ambition 27 £100m+ revenue target.

Recent Partner hires include Infrastructure & Energy Partners Laura Gordon from DLA Piper and Shane Toal from DWF, and Real Estate Partner Daniel Glowacz from Addleshaw Goddard.