Withers litigation partners Jeremy Scott and Andrew Ford have resigned from the firm to launch a London office for Australian litigation boutique Lipman Karas.

The two London-based partners, who will be joined by associates Peter Leckey, Oliver Stokes and Caroline Stripp at Lipman, are set to open the Australian firm's third office before the end of the financial year.

Lipman Karas, which currently has two offices in Perth and Hong Kong, focuses on complex financial litigation. The firm has an existing referral relationship with Withers.

Withers managing partner Margaret Robertson commented: "The departures have been entirely amicable and both parties recognise the potential for reciprocal work going forward."

She added: "The firm is well prepared and working to ensure these departures have minimal impact on, and will not disrupt, our day-to-day business. We are sorry to see them leave and thank them for their contribution to our success over the years."

Scott focuses on commercial and civil litigation with an emphasis on insolvency, fraud and asset tracing, trust disputes and interim remedies, while Ford's work covers fraud and asset tracing, managing cross border claims, professional negligence, disciplinary hearings and defamation.

The departures come after Withers' recent announcement thatit is set to open in Singapore this May. Hong Kong Asia wealth planning head Jay Krause will relocate to the region to head the practice.