Former Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co senior partner Quentin Poole has retired after almost 40 years at the firm now known as Gowling WLG.

Poole, who spent 20 years as managing partner and senior partner of Wragges prior to its 2016 merger with Canada's Gowlings, stepped down from his role as head of international projects last week.

Gowling WLG chairman Andrew Witts, CEO David Fennell and strategic development director Jenny Hardy will now take the lead on international strategy following his retirement.

Poole became managing partner of Wragge & Co in 1995, before moving into the senior partner post in 2003. He continued in the role following the firm's 2014 merger with Lawrence Graham, and was appointed international projects head in 2015.

Witts said: "Quentin has retired after nearly four decades at the firm, but will be on call for specific international consultancy and projects, so that we continue to draw on his formidable experience and expertise.

"Quentin has been a central figure for Gowling WLG and its predecessor firms for many years – including as managing partner, senior partner and head of international projects – and we wish him a very well-deserved retirement."

During his time at the firm, Poole helped to transform legacy Birmingham firm Wragge & Co from a small 50-lawyer outfit into a significant international player.

He also played a key role on the firm's 2014 Lawrence Graham merger, which gave it a long-sought London boost. The firm then went on to surprise the market with its 2016 combination with Canadian firm Gowlings.

The firm now has around 1,400 legal professionals working out of 18 cities across the UK, Canada, continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

As head of international projects, Poole has led the firm's global expansion, which in recent years has seen it open a second German office in Stuttgart and launch an association with Singapore firm JurisAsia.

In 2016, Poole won the British Legal Awards Editor's Award in recognition of his role in transforming Wragge & Co into an international firm.