The former managing partner of DLA Piper's Singapore office, Matthew Glynn, has resigned from the firm, marking the latest senior departure frm the office.

IT and telecoms specialist Glynn, who led the Singapore base between June 2011 and February this year and was also head of the firm's Asia intellectual property and technology group, is expected to leave in the coming months to pursue his own venture.

His move will mark the third senior exit from DLA's Singapore office in the last year, following the departures of Glynn's predecessor as Singapore managing partner, Martin David, and disputes partner Justyn Jagger.

David, who was Singapore managing partner from 2008 untill 2011, joined Ince & Co this May as Asia energy head. He also led DLA Piper's Asia finance and projects group as well as its energy, water and mining practice in the region.

Meanwhile, Jagger, the former co-chair of DLA's global arbitration group and leader of its Southeast Asia disputes practice, moved to Singapore firm Stamford Law last August.

In a statement, Singapore managing partner John Goulios said: "I can confirm the departure of Matt Glynn from our Singapore office – we wish Matt all the best in his new endeavours. DLA Piper is committed to the strategic growth of our Singapore office and with the onset of the economic community in ASEAN in 2015, Singapore and Southeast Asia are of crucial importance to our firm"

During his eight years with the firm, Glynn advised on a wide range of commercial and regulatory issues in the IT and telecoms sector, particularly in the Asian, African and Middle Eastern emerging markets.

DLA now has five partners in Singapore, including India specialist Biswajit Chatterjee, ex-Norton Rose restructuring partner Troy Doyle, corporate partner Sheela Moorthy and ex-Shearman arbitrator Yu-Jin Tay. Insurance specialist Goulios succeeded Glynn as office managing partner in February this year.

Singapore's legal market has become increasingly competitive in the last 12 months, with a string of new entrants and re-entrants ramping up the competition for work. Among those to have newly opened in the region are Simmons & Simmons and a number of Japanese firms, while recent office relaunches have included those of magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and US outfit Morrison & Foerster.

A limited number of local or Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licence awards in February has also put pressure on firms to enter into tie-ups with local players. DLA was among a group of 19 which applied for a QFLP licence in the country but was unsuccessful in its bid.