Linklaters' former European managing partner Jean-Marc Lefevre has retired after more than 30 years at the firm.

Lefevre (pictured), who joined Linklaters in Paris in 1978 and became the firm's first non-English partner in 1982 and an equity partner in 1986, left at the end of October.

He was co-head of the Paris office from 1995 to 2005, at which point he became European managing partner, a role he held until 2008. He then headed the firm's healthcare and consumer industries sector, relocating from Paris to Milan.

Lefevre said: "I have spent my whole legal career at Linklaters because essentially I wanted to choose a European firm and London at the time was the second most international city and the first finance deals were being made out of it.

"My proudest moments have been seeing the reputation of the firm become recognised in the various countries we've been working in."

He will continue to assist Linklaters' Paris office with community investment and other corporate responsibility projects during his retirement and is also intending to help with the reconstruction of Haiti.

Linklaters Paris managing partner Paul Lignieres said in an internal memo: "Jean-Marc has made an enormous contribution. We wish him all the very best for a long and happy retirement."