Fried Frank London finance head Stuart Brinkworth is set to leave the US firm's City base for Mayer Brown, Legal Week can reveal.

Brinkworth joined Fried Frank as its first London finance head in 2015 from Hogan Lovells, where he was a partner in the firm's City banking practice. He was previously a banking partner at legacy SJ Berwin.

With a practice advising UK and international lenders and sponsors on leveraged finance deals, Brinkworth will be the first London hire for Mayer Brown since a recent flurry of exits. He joins the firm as head of its European leveraged finance team.

"Finance is Mayer Brown's signature strength", said Dominic Griffiths, partner and co-head of Mayer Brown's global banking and finance practice. "We have been looking for opportunities to add more leveraged finance depth to our team and Stuart has an exceptional reputation in the market."

The firm, which recently appointed London partner Jeremy Clay as firm-wide managing partner, saw six partners depart in about three months. The bulk of these were in its insurance practice, which London head Sally Davies has said is refocusing on bigger-ticket work.

Its most recent lateral partner hire in London was in November 2017, when it brought in Jay Doraisamy from Dentons as co-head of the London pensions practice.

News of the move comes after Mayer Brown agreed a cooperation arrangement with Saudi Arabian firm Al-Yaqoub Attorneys & Legal Advisers at the start of this month.

It also hired Allen & Overy finance partner Scott Zemser in its New York office in February.

Fried Frank London managing partner Mark Mifsud said: "We appreciate Stuart's many contributions to the firm and wish him well in his new role."

Mayer Brown declined to comment.