Adrian De Souza, the group general counsel of Land Securities, is to leave the company after four years at the helm.

De Souza (pictured), who oversaw two major panel reviews during his time at the FTSE 100 company, is to depart in October 2015 after serving a 12 month notice period.

It is not yet known where de Souza will head next, or who is being lined up to replace him in the GC role. Earlier this year, Land Securities hired Crown Estate's Alex Peeke as its head of legal, replacing Clive Ashcroft, who retired from the position.

As general counsel of the property company, de Souza looked after an annual legal spend of around £18m-£20m. He joined the company as its first ever general counsel and company secretary from SABMiller in 2010, where he was European head of legal.

He began his career as a lawyer at legacy Lovells, where he trained and worked as a solicitor, later spending a five year stint at CC as a senior associate.

A year after he joined, he cut the company's number of external legal advisers from over 100 to 12, following a major panel review.

Last year, following another review, he awarded spots to firms including Hogan Lovells, Herbert Smith Freehills and legacy Dundas & Wilson on newly-created 'A' and 'B' panels.

A separate roster saw Allen & Overy appointed as the company's main financial adviser, with Slaughter and May and Clifford Chance (CC) awarded places to advise on corporate matters.