Herbert Smith heavyweights call time as five retire from partnership

Herbert Smith is set to lose two of its most senior names, with corporate heavyweights Richard Fleck and Anthony Macaulay among five partners retiring from the partnership.

Fleck and Macaulay will step down from the partnership on 30 April alongside corporate partner Stephen Hancock, employment partner John Farr and finance partner Andrew Calderwood.

Fleck, who will stay with the firm as a consultant for two years, has played an active management role in recent years - serving as global relationship partner and co-head of the firm's US group. His practice has covered corporate, disputes and competition work.

When he retires the relationship partner position will cease to exist, while US group co-head Damien Byrne Hill will take sole responsibility for the US group.

Fleck will focus on developing Herbert Smith's profile in the US and Japan, as well as that of its alliance with Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe. He will also undertake client work, sit on the firm's strategic LLP council and advise on internal conflicts and professional conduct processes.

Macaulay, one of the firm's best-known corporate rainmakers, will work around one day a week for the next two years, acting as an internal mentor and consultant. His role will also include helping to develop the practice's client relationships and know-how capability.

Farr - who formed the firm's employment group in the 1990s - will continue dealing with clients and will also play a role in the firm's alumni programme.

Hancock will stay at the firm as a consultant until 31 October, while Calderwood will leave immediately to carry out pro bono activities in Africa.

News of the retirements came in the same week that Herbert Smith launched in Spain, with a triple-partner hire from Link-laters in Madrid.

The firm has been targeting a launch on Spain since abandoning discussions with Cuatrecasas Goncalves Pereira about the Spanish leader joining its European alliance.

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