Macfarlanes corporate partner Rachel Bond has left the firm and taken up an in-house role at governance services company Byhiras.

Bond left Macfarlanes at the close of 2011 and joined Byhiras earlier this month. Her role at the company, which was launched a year ago, will cover both legal and non-legal work.

She has been a partner at Macfarlanes since 2006, having spent the entirety of her career at the City firm. Her practice focuses on M&A and corporate finance.

Bond said: "When the opportunity came up, I saw it as a chance to do something a little bit different. I had a great career at Macfarlanes, but decided it was time for a change."

Macfarlanes senior partner Charles Martin said: "This is a great opportunity for Rachel and we look forward to carrying on working with her and wish her all the very best."

The news follows a number of recent exits from Macfarlanes, for which partner departures are traditionally a rare occurence.

Funds partner Stephen Sims left to join Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in September last year, while M&A partner Garrett Hayes left for Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker in June, following planning head Ian Ginbey and real estate partner Richard Reuben's March moves to Clyde & Co and Fladgate respectively.

However, the firm this week took over specialist hedge fund law firm D Harris & Co International (DHCI) in a bid to grow its footprint in the hedge fund market.

All of DHCI's nine City-based employees have joined Macfarlanes' private equity practice, with DHCI founder Daniel Harris taking a consultant role alongside five associates, two trainees and one paralegal.