A senior German partner has left Ashurst as former Munich head Karl Wach sets up his own litigation boutique alongside senior associate Frank Meckes.

The top 10 City law firm said the move came as part of a bid to refocus its Munich office around corporate and finance law. Wach was the only litigation partner in the office, although there are still three associates.

Ashurst plans to outsource significant litigation instructions to the new boutique firm, called Wach & Meckes. The firm said the recent relocation of finance partner Bernd Egbers from Frankfurt to Munich was also part of the same strategy.

German managing partner Peter Junghaenel told Legal Week: "We are refocusing in Munich towards corporate and finance, but we will explore litigation for our German offices in the future."

Wach joined Ashurst from Linklaters in 2001 for the launch of the Munich office. He briefly headed the office between 2004 and 2005, until Simon Beddow relocated from London to head the German practice.

The news comes as Frankfurt-based partner Liane Muschter becomes co-head of the German real estate practice alongside Junghaenel, who replaced Beddow as managing partner for the German practice last month.