Dechert Paris partner Pierre Mayer is leaving the firm at the start of next month in order to set up his own arbitration practice.

Mayer said the key factor in his decision to leave after almost ten years at the firm was the "conflicts of interest present in a multinational law firm such as Dechert".

He also said that his desire to increasingly concentrate on working as an arbitrator contributed to his withdrawal from the partnership.

Dechert said Mayer will "occasionally" work with the firm's arbitration team on certain cases as co-counsel, but will "almost exclusively" practice as an arbitrator from his own independent firm.

Eduardo Silva Romero, head of Dechert's international arbitration practice, said his team was "very saddened" by the departure of a "mentor and close friend".

He added: "We are privileged and happy to still have the opportunity to work with Pierre as co-counsel on some chosen arbitration cases in the future."

There have been numerous high profile departures by senior arbitrators to set up their own boutiques in recent years.

Last month, Freshfields' Russia disputes team left the firm to set up KK&P Trial Lawyers, also citing conflicts of interest as part of the reason for the decision.

In 2014, several Freshfields partners were part of a group of partners – which also included partners from Jones Day, Covington & Burling and Shearman & Sterling – that started arbitration boutique Three Crowns.

Partners at Holman Fenwick Willan and Hogan Lovells have also left to set up boutiques, in 2015 and 2012 respectively.