A trio of Holman Fenwick Willan partners have left the firm to set up their own City marine law boutique.

Partners Jonathan Campbell, Alistair Johnston and Julian Clark launched the new firm, Campbell Johnston Clark, yesterday (31 August) after working together at Holman Fenwick for the past seven years.

The new outfit will aim to offer a more flexible service for clients, allowing them greater input as to how they will be billed, allowing procedures to differ between clients.

Clark said: "The three of us have developed a great working relationship over the years and we now want the opportunity to set up a firm that breaks down the barriers in the way that law firms operate and find out what clients really want in terms of rates, pricing schemes and in-house work.

"We are not going to have billing targets and target hours, and we are also very keen to provide greater access for women in law to reach the partnership."

Campbell is a transactional lawyer who acts for banks and ship owners, while Clark specialises in contractual dispute resolution and casualty work, and Johnston's practice focuses on shipping and marine insurance. The group has said that most of its existing clients have indicated that they will move with them to the new firm.

Holman Fenwick has in recent years stated its intention to branch out from its traditional shipping focus to take on a broader spread of work.

In June this year the firm reported a 1% increase in fee income for 2009-10 to £99.6m, with 43% of turnover generated outside of the UK.