Berwin Leighton Paisner's (BLP) head of finance Matthew Kellett has left the firm, prompting an independent review of the practice.

Kellett, who also leads BLP's banking and capital markets practice group, joined the firm in 2010, prior to which he was managing director and head of financial structuring at the Royal Bank of Scotland. He was previously a partner at Linklaters for thirteen years, from 1990-2003.

His move has prompted the firm's management to carry out a review of its finance department, as first reported by Legal Week earlier this month. Kellett will stay at BLP until a successor has been appointed.

A spokesperson at BLP said: "The finance team continues to retain significant clients and is involved an increasing amount of international and multi-practice work. We would like to thank Matthew for his contribution to the finance department and wish him every success.

"We are also taking this opportunity to conduct an independent review of the department, in conjunction with the Finance partners, to assess how best to take advantage of the opportunities for the team going forward."

The departmental review comes in the wake of the recent exits of corporate finance partner Michael Weir and finance partner Richard Todd, who joined Jones Day and Mayer Brown respectively.

Speaking at the time about the reasons behind the moves one BLP partner said: "We have to play to our strengths and, when you look at last year, it was clear what sectors we are good at – litigation and property. Corporate had too many underperforming people in it – if you are second best at something, it is difficult to compete in this market."

In September, commercial technology head Adam Rose joined Mishcon de Reya, while contentious tax chief Liesl Fichardt was hired by Clifford Chance. In August Raymond McKeeve, BLP's former global head of private equity, left the firm to join Jones Day's London office.