Clifford Chance's (CC's) veteran US head of media litigation, David Schulz, has quit the firm after 25 years to become a name partner in 16-lawyer media litigation boutique Levine Sullivan Koch.

New York-based Schulz, who became a partner with CC's legacy US branch Rogers & Wells in 1987, left the London-based giant on 31 May to start at Levine Sullivan, where he has added his name to the firm's brand.

Schulz cited the niche nature of his practice within CC's global practice as the reason behind his move.

"The type of law I practise, media defence litigation, does not need an international network. It was difficult for me to expand the practice because of the economics [of CC] and it was better suited to move to a firm with specialist support, rather than continue on my own," Schulz told Legal Week Global.

Schulz joins as the ninth partner at Levine Sullivan, which specialises in defending news, entertainment and other media organisations in libel and privacy issues.