Kingsley Napley family law head Jane Keir is taking over as the firm's senior partner after incumbent Christopher Murray announced his retirement.

As well as standing down as senior partner, Murray has also decided to withdraw from the firm's partnership. Both moves are effective as  of 1 May next year.

Murray was appointed as senior partner in 2007, becoming only the fourth to hold the title in Kingsley Napley's 75-year history. He will continue to advise the firm on a part-time consultancy basis.

Keir joined Kingsley Napley in 1989, making partner in 1992. In 1999 she was promoted to her current role of head of family law and will be succeeded in the post by family law partner Charlotte Bradley.

The City firm, which has 41 partners and 235 employees. posted 2011-12 turnover of £27.3m, up 10% from £24.9m the previous year, with profits per equity partner at £400,000.

Keir (pictured) commented: "It is with natural trepidation that I tread where my friend and colleague Christopher has gone before. However, with his and the firm's continued support, I intend to follow Christopher's path of upholding Kingsley Napley's unparalleled reputation as a firm of quality and integrity across a number of legal disciplines, trusted by our clients, our colleagues and the legal industry alike."

Kingsley Napley, which is well-known for its criminal litigation practice, has taken a number of high-profile roles in recent months, including an appointment for criminal litigation head Stephen Parkinson to advise former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks following her arrest last year.

In addition, criminal litigation partner Louise Hodges last year advised UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli, while the firm was also among a line-up advising on cricket's 'spot-fixing' scandal last year, which saw three Pakistani internationals handed jail terms.