DLA Piper competition stalwart Mike Pullen has left the firm after 13 years as partner to join Stephenson Harwood.

Pullen is set to join Stephenson Harwood's competition practice next week. He was head of international trade at his former firm before he left in September.

Pullen worked at DLA Piper for 16 years, having joined in 1998 before his promotion to partner in 2001. He has advised several governments on domestic and international trade and investment policy.

His experience includes advising the government of Libya on the free trade agreement negotiations with the EU and providing a report for the Qatari government concerning allegations of human rights violations relating to migrant workers. He also advised a number of Eastern European governments on their accession to the EU.

His departure is the latest in a line of partner exits from DLA Piper's London litigation group. In July DLA Piper white-collar crime partner Jo Rickards, who advised former News of the World editor Andy Coulson in the recent phone-hacking trial, moved to Kingsley Napley, and earlier this year longserving competition partner Martin Rees joined Squire Sanders' regulatory practice.