Pannone senior partner Joy Kingsley is set to leave the firm to take up the role of senior partner at Manchester-based JMW Solicitors.

Kingsley will step down next month after working at the firm for over 30 years. She will take up her new position in September. An election will be held in the coming months to appoint a successor, with no date confirmed yet.

Kingsley has worked at Pannone for the past 32 years, 14 of which she was managing partner, before being appointed senior partner in 2008.

Steven Grant, managing partner at Pannone, said: "Joy has made an immense contribution to the firm and played a pivotal role in developing Pannone into an extremely successful law firm. We wish Joy all the very best in her future venture and thank her for all of her achievements during her career at Pannone."

Kingsley said: "I have greatly enjoyed my time at Pannone and have been proud to be part of its success. I decided to move elsewhere as I felt it was time for something different. I am looking forward to joining the management team at JMW and being part of the development of a smaller but very ambitious law firm in its ascendancy."

Pannone recently elected new managing partner Emma Holt who is set to take over the role from Steven Grant on 1 January 2011 following an uncontested election.