Addleshaw Goddard's professional practice group head Richard Linsell is set to retire from the firm, with colleague William Wastie taking over the reigns.

Partnership specialist Linsell (pictured) is due to retire from Addleshaws' partnership at the end of the 2010-11 financial year after more than 40 years practising law. He has advised professional practices since 1990, with limited liability partnerships being a key focus since 2001.

Linsell and Wastie joined Addleshaws in 2006 from Mayer Brown where they led the transatlantic firm's professional practices group. Addleshaws recruited the pair to launch a professional practice group for the national firm.

Linsell's retirement plans have been in the pipeline for two years, with Wastie steadily taking over the management of the group since the autumn.

Linsell is due to take the summer off before deciding what he will do next. It is likely that he will consider taking up non-executive roles.

Linsell told Legal Week: "I shall be 64 this year and I have had a good innings as a partner in a UK firm. I now intend to take some time off over the summer before deciding my next steps, but I shall stay as far away as possible from clocking time and commuting."