Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft's London head Bob Link is to step down from his post, with capital markets partner Angus Duncan set to take the helm.

Former firmwide chair Link is expected to return to the US full time over the next few months, although it is unclear what his exact role with the firm will be.

He was drafted in to lead the London office in February 2009 following a turbulent period that saw seven City partners walk out to join Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker. As well as splitting his time between London and New York, Link has also been overseeing Cadwalader's Beijing arm.

Cadwalader has not brought in any new partners in the City during Link's time at the helm, although it did hire Edmond Curtin as a special counsel in its capital markets practice from Credit Suisse.

Link (pictured) said in a statement: "This past year has been challenging, in no small part due to the departure of some fine lawyers who were trying to find their own path in an uncertain marketplace… I [will] return to the US with prospects for the London office bright: new office space, a number of senior lateral hires in the pipeline and a local leader in Angus, who is not only a great practitioner but also someone with a keen sense of how to take us forward."

Duncan joined Cadwalader in May 2005, after 11 years at Allen & Overy where he managed the Tokyo Office between 1996-2000.