Investors’ watchdogs have criticised newly-recruited DJ Freeman property partner Michael Cassidy’s role as a non-executive director at British Land following disclosures that his previous firm, Maxwell Batley, was paid £190,000 in fees by the company.

Cassidy is one of three British Land directors whose independence has been questioned by the Pensions Investment Research Consultants (PIRC) and the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).