Berwin Leighton Paisner sees 12 partner departures in 12 months

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has seen 12 partners leave its City office over the last 12 months, with the firm also moving to de-equitise a number of partners.

Six partners have left the firm's limited liability partnership since 16 October 2009 according to filings with Companies House. Of these, the corporate practice has seen two departures, with commercial, TMT and outsourcing seeing two partners leave.

Separately, three partners have left for other firms. Richard Lucas joined rival Bird & Bird, while last month tax partner Jonathan Levy quit to join Reynolds Porter Chamberlain and competition partner Beckett McGrath left to join Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge.

News of the departures follows a period in which the firm has removed a number of partners from its equity. Managing partner Neville Eisenberg confirmed that up to 10 partners in the City have been de-equitised since January. Some of them have stayed with the firm as consultants, while others have left entirely.

Eisenberg said: "Like all firms, we keep a close eye on things. We regularly review partner performance and contribution and during any downturn it is responsible to actively manage the partnership."

So far this year the firm has brought in 12 lateral partners, including high profile names such as leveraged finance partner Andrew Bamber, litigation partner Graham Shear and tax partner Murray North, who joined from Allen & Overy, Teacher Stern and Clifford Chance respectively.

The number of external appointments has led to claims that some partners are unhappy with the level of lateral recruitment. However, Eisenberg denied this commenting: "Partners are very supportive of our strategy, and that includes the partner recruitment strategy."

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