Long-serving Linklaters corporate partner David Barnes has retired after a 36-year career at the magic circle firm.

Barnes (pictured), one of five candidates who contested the Linklaters senior partner role earlier this year, took retirement at the end of last month.

After joining the firm as a trainee in the mid-1970s, Barnes made partner in 1985, at which point he relocated to the firm's Hong Kong office, having spent an earlier period there from 1980 to 1983 as an associate.

In 1991, he returned to London to work within the firm's corporate division. In 2005 he was appointed global head of corporate, a role he held until 2010 when he was succeeded by Jeremy Parr.

His key clients included BT, HSBC and Sainsbury's, which he advised on its 2003 bid for Safeway and the 2007 takeover approach by Qatari investment group Delta Two.

A spokesperson commented: "We are very grateful for David's significant contribution to the firm and wish him all the best for the future."

Earlier this year, Barnes ran alongside incumbent senior partner Robert Elliott and three other candidates for the senior partner role, but dropped out of the race in March along with fellow corporate partner Richard Godden.