Linklaters private equity co-heads Ian Bagshaw and Richard Youle are set to leave the magic circle firm to join White & Case.

Bagshaw (pictured) and Youle, who have been key in helping to build the magic circle firm's private equity practice have been partners at Linklaters since 2007 and 2006 respectively. They are set to leave the firm at the end of December.

Bagshaw joined Linklaters from Clifford Chance, where he made partner in 2004. He has acted for a number of key buy-out clients including Rhone Capital, Triton, 3i Group and Bridgepoint.

Youle meanwhile joined Linklaters from SJ Berwin in 2001 and works for clients including CapVest, HgCapital, Terra Firma, Global Infrastructure Partners, Montagu Private Equity and Oaktree Capital.

The pair, who were associates together at Eversheds in the nineties, are also understood to have spoken to Fried Frank earlier this year. In 2010 they also talked to Ropes & Gray.

Nick Rees, who co-managed Linklaters New York office until 2011, will take charge of the firm's private equity practice.

White & Case has been looking to build its private equity practice for several years. Earlier this summer the firm added Kirkland & Ellis private equity partner Ross Allardice to its City base. Firmwide, it currently acts for clients including Doughty Hanson, Warburg Pincus, Lone Star and CVC Capital Partners.

"London is increasingly emerging as the hub for private equity transactions throughout EMEA," commented White & Case's M&A head for M&A, Jan Matejcek.

"Our new London private equity partner team of Ian, Richard and Ross will be able to draw on our full service capability in London including strong corporate, acquisition finance and high yield financing teams."

White & Case said the additions would link with the firm's EMEA bank finance practice and enhance the firm's capabilities in advising sponsor side-clients.

The moves follow the transfer of several high profile private equity practice leaders in London in recent months. Clifford Chance global head of private equity David Walker quit for Latham & Watkins earlier this year, while Berwin Leighton Paisner's global head Raymond McKeeve recently made the move to Jones Day.

In a statement Linklaters said: "Both Ian and Richard have played a significant role in building out our London private equity team. We thank Ian and Richard for their contribution to the firm and wish them all the best in their future careers.

Linklaters has considerable strength in depth in its global private equity team and dual strength in both private equity and banking. We remain committed to providing our clients with excellent service in this area."