The head of DLA Piper's insurance practice in Hong Kong is leaving the firm to pursue opportunities in legal consulting.

Will Harrison, who joined DLA in 2007 as a senior associate from Clifford Chance in Hong Kong, is highly rated for contentious insurance work in the region.

He focuses primarily on financial lines and speciality insurance, and has worked on high-profile professional negligence cases such as the Barings Bank collapse audit negligence litigation in London.

He gave no further details as to his next move, except to say he would be exiting private practice.

His departure will be seen as a blow for DLA's insurance team in the region, which makes up a significant part of the firm's Asia practice with eight partners and more than 50 lawyers.

In Hong Kong, his colleagues include partners Heng Loong Cheong, who handles non-contentious insurance, Joyce Chan, who deals with regulatory matters in the sector, and office managing partner Kevin Chan, who specialises in marine insurance.

DLA has seen several partner departures in the Asia-Pacific region over the last year.

Earlier this month, the former managing partner of the firm's Singapore office and head of its Asia intellectual property and technology group, Matthew Glynn handed in his notice, just months after the departure of another former Singapore managing partner Martin David, who joined Ince & Co as Asia energy head in May.

Corporate partner Wan Li in Shanghai also announced plans to leave the firm in April to lead Seyfarth Shaw's Asia debut in China, while Justyn Jagger, the former co-chair of DLA's global arbitration group and leader of its Southeast Asia disputes practice, moved from DLA Singapore to local firm Stamford Law last August.

In Australia, the firm has recently seen the departures of Sydney corporate and technology partner Richard Horton to Squire Sanders, labour and employment partner Nick Ruskin to K&L Gates in Melbourne, and global co-head of life sciences Amanda Turnill to Baker & McKenzie in Sydney.

However, DLA has also made some key additions to its Hong Kong office this year, including the hire of Mayer Brown JSM's former head of structured finance for Asia, Ben Sandstad, real estate partner Ed Sheremeta from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, and King & Wood Mallesons energy partner Carolyn Dong.

DLA declined to comment.