Nabarro managing partner Nicole Paradise has announced her intention to step down after 12 years in the post.

Paradise's fourth three-year term as managing partner, which began in 2008, will end this autumn, when a successor will take over.

Senior partner Simon Johnston is expected to hold soundings of the partnership in the coming weeks to decide likely candidates to replace Paradise, with the firm's partnership board expected to make the appointment next month.

Paradise will remain with Nabarro but will not return to client-facing litigation work. Instead, she will become a part-time partner or consultant, working on management projects at the firm.

Paradise said: "I want to step back from the managing partner role in order to be able to work more flexibly. I will continue to be involved in management – the exact structure, however, has not yet been decided upon."

The news comes nearly six months after Johnston was re-elected for a third five-year term as senior partner, following an uncontested vote of the partnership.

Australian-born Johnston, who made partner in 1990, succeeded David Bramson as senior partner in 2001. At that time, he was the first corporate partner to head the firm and, at the age of 39, the youngest to ever hold the role.

Click here for more details of Johnston's reappointment earlier this year.