Reynolds Porter Chamberlain's (RPC's) head of media litigation is leaving the firm to take up a legal post with client Associated Newspapers.

Liz Hartley will leave RPC in September after spending 10 years with the firm. She will take up her new role as a group legal adviser with Associated Newspapers, publisher of titles including the Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Metro and London Lite, in January 2009.

Commenting on her move, Hartley said: "While I will be sorry to leave RPC, the department has an established reputation as one of the leading media defence practices in the country and I am looking forward to continuing to work with my former colleagues in their continuing role as advisers to Associated Newspapers."

Associated Newspapers legal director Harvey Kass added: "Having benefited for many years from Liz's special talents as a truly outstanding media lawyer, it seems a natural progression for Liz to be moving in-house, particularly at such a crucial time for press freedom."

Hartley has acted in a number of high-profile cases including actions brought by HRH Prince of Wales.

Last September, RPC added to its media group with the hire of Jaron Lewis. Lewis joined the firm after seven years working in-house at the BBC. The media arm of RPC has also acted on behalf of clients including HMV and Sports Direct.