Linklaters equity capital markets partner Brigid Rentoul is leaving the firm after almost 20 years to join UK hedge fund manager Winton Capital as head of legal.

Rentoul, who made partner at the magic circle firm in 1997, focuses on international equity offers, domestic equity issues and takeovers.

Before joining Linklaters in 1992, she worked for US firm Davis Polk & Wardwell in its London and New York offices and is US-qualified with experience in US securities law applied to international equity issues and M&A.

Major initial public offerings (IPOs) she has been involved with at Linklaters have included the $1.5bn (£798m) flotation of credit reference agency Experian in 2006, the £1.4bn listing of Danish food company Chr Hansen in 2010 and the 2011 IPO of British vacuum technology producer Edwards Group.

At Winton Capital – a London-based hedge fund manager which launched in 1997 – Rentoul will advise on all legal matters including compliance and transactional work. The firm, which in 2011 held $22.6bn (£14.4bn) in assets under management, sold a 10% stake to a Goldman Sachs-backed private equity fund in 2007.

She will work alongside Andrew Bastow, Winton's general counsel and head of government and regulatory affairs.

The news comes after several departures from Linklaters' London office, with high-profile litigator Christopher Style last month joining One Essex Court, real estate finance lawyer Claire Watson moving to Berwin Leighton Paisner and finance partner Stephen Blackshaw departing for US law firm Sidley Austin.

Meanwhile, capital markets partner Alan Davies and managing associate Piers Summerfield are leaving to join Simmons & Simmons.

A Linklaters spokesperson said: "We thank Brigid for her contribution and wish her well in her future endeavours."