Hogan Lovells Asia-Pacific and Middle East head Patrick Sherrington is to retire from the firm next year, with Miami-based projects partner Miguel Zaldivar set to replace him.

Sherrington (pictured) will step down from the position and retire in mid-2018, after five years in the role and 40 years at the firm.

Speaking to Legal Week about his plans for the future, Sherrington said: "I'll enjoy a few less overnight plane journeys and more time with my family – but I will be looking for other opportunities in the education and charity sectors. I also hope to find some consultancy and non-exec opportunities which take advantage of my 16 years of management experience. I don't imagine I'll be pruning the roses."

He joined legacy London firm Lovell White & King in 1978 as a trainee and was made partner in 1985. He was part of the team that advised the Daily Star newspaper in novelist and Conservative politician Jeffrey Archer's 1987 libel case.

Appointed co-head of litigation and arbitration in 2002, he relocated to Hong Kong in 2013. He was appointed regional managing partner for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East in the same year.

During his time in the role, the firm launched offices in Sydney and Perth, ended its three-year partnership with seven-partner Indonesian firm Hermawan Juniarto, and entered into a new association with local outfit Dewi Negara Fachri & Partners.

Sherrington told Legal Week: "I take most satisfaction from being on hand to help execute the firm's strategy for the region; this has been a collective effort of which I have been pleased to be a part. We've opened two offices in Australia, built a relationship in Indonesia which gives us a comprehensive capability to service our clients there, and launched a very successful joint venture in the Shanghai free trade zone with Fidelity – these are exciting gains. I think we've also brought our China practices together much more effectively so they operate far more cohesively."

He will be replaced by Zaldivar, who is co-head of Hogan Lovells infrastructure, energy, resources and projects practice. Zaldivar previously served as co-head of the firm's Latin America practice group and is currently based in Miami, but will relocate to Hong Kong following his appointment.

"Miguel is a fantastic lawyer and I believe his background will bring a better connectivity between Asia and the Americas," Sherrington added.

Zaldivar's current co-head Adrian Walker is also stepping down and the pair will be replaced in the role by London partner Philip Robb, effective 31 December 2017.