King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWM) private equity heavyweight Tim Wright is set to join DLA Piper.

Wright, who will join DLA as a corporate partner, moved to legacy SJ Berwin as a corporate partner in 2004 from Clifford Chance (CC). He joined the magic circle firm in 1997 and was made up as partner four years later.

Wright holds strong ties with Duke Street Capital, acting for the private equity group on several deals, including its purchase of a majority stake in Plexus Law and Cogent Law parent company Parabis Group in 2012.

He recently led a team advising European Capital on the sale of its stake in Whitworths, the UK's largest supplier of dried fruit snacks.

One DLA source, who confirmed Wright's appointment last week, said management no longer asks the firm's partnership to vote in support of a new hire, but rather asks for any objections.

"The partnership doesn't vote on new hires anymore," said the insider. "If the partner is a major hire, and being brought in above a certain amount, management asks for any objections, which are considered if 10% of the partnership voice concern.

"We're now so spread out as a partnership getting together the 10% isn't really possible."

KWM has seen a string of private equity departures in recent years. Wright's exit comes after corporate finance partner Ed Harris joined Hogan Lovells in February alongside senior associate Leanne Moezi, while corporate partner Nicholas Plant left to lead Dentons' UKMEA private equity offering last year.