Charles Russell has pulled out of clinical negligence work in the wake of number of partner departures.

The decision comes after the UK top 50 firm's Guilford clinical negligence head Amanda Stevens left the firm last month (5 July) to join Irwin Mitchell as a partner in its London office.

Earlier this year joint clinical negligence chiefs Grainne Barton and Richard Vallance also both quit the firm, moving to Penningtons and Field Fisher Waterhouse respectively.

Vallance was joined at Field Fisher Waterhouse by four Charles Russell fee earners including associate Edwina Rawson, who joined Field Fisher Waterhouse as a partner.

One Charles Russell partner commented: "Various clinical negligence lawyers have left for various reasons. Once partners left, there was not the critical mass to continue in this area."

Stevens also headed up the personal injury (PI) team at Charles Russell. The firm has brought in a locum lawyer to continue PI work while it looks for a permanent replacement. The firm intends for PI to remain a standalone practice.

In a statement, the firm said: "We wish Amanda all the best for the future. As a firm we will not be doing clinical negligence any more as this is not part of our strategy going forward, we will though still be undertaking PI work for our existing private client and corporate clients."