Barlow Lyde & Gilbert commercial risk and reinsurance partner Jason Bright is set to leave the firm to join Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC).

Bright resigned from Barlows in December 2010 but his departure date has yet to be confirmed. He will join RPC as a partner in its insurance practice.

Bright joined Barlows in 2000 from CMS Cameron McKenna and was made up to partner in 2003. He specialises in insurance coverage disputes and the defence of complex liability claims.

Bright headed the commercial risk and reinsurance team at Barlows for around a year from 2009. His departure leaves the group with 10 partners.

RPC managing partner Jonathan Watmough said: "Jason is a leader in product liability and international property insurance, both of which are strategically very important to us.

"The client fit is also fantastic. He is very indicative of the type of partner we recruit – at the top of his market and the top of his game."

Bright's hire will take the total number of partners in RPC's insurance practice to 27.

The news follows a number of departures from Barlows, including commercial and technology partner Andrew Giverin, who left the firm at the close of 2010 to launch a technology, outsourcing and commercial law boutique.

Meanwhile, insurance partners Mike Munro and James Parker announced their departure to CMS Cameron McKenna in November last year, in the same month that Barlows overhauled its practice group structure and asked three corporate partners to leave the firm.