A four-partner equity capital markets team has left Cobbetts to join the London office of Canadian law firm Gowlings.

The City team, which comprises partners Andrew Wright, Charles Bond, Sefton Collett and Dominic Prentis as well as directors Susan Johnston and David Brennan, will join Gowlings' energy, infrastructure and mining industry group at the end of this month.

At Cobbetts, Wright led the firm's respected public markets team, which worked with clients including Panceltica, the first Qatar-based company to be admitted to the Alternative Investment Market, and Manchester-based oil and gas exploration company Enegi Oil.

Gowlings' London managing partner Andrew Oppenheim commented: "The group is very complementary to our Canadian equity capital markets and natural resources practices, and we are delighted we will now be able to advise clients looking to raise capital in both Toronto and London."

The news comes after Cobbetts partner duo William Ballmann and Rob Payne left the firm last month to open up a Leeds office for Gateley.

Cobbetts also last week confirmed that it had called off merger talks with northwest peer DWF, attributing the decision to "current uncertainty in market conditions".

Cobbetts head of equity capital markets Daniel O'Gorman commented: "We are sorry that Andrew and our colleagues are leaving and wish them the best of luck with their new global venture."