Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has seen another partner departure, the latest in a spate of exits that have spanned several months

London investment management partner Nicola Hopkins has left to join Ashurst's City investment funds practice, having spent four years at legacy BLP. 

She specialises in open- and closed-ended investment funds, both onshore and offshore, predominantly aimed at institutional investors.

Her exit is the most recent in a slew of partner departures from BCLP since the firm was formed as a merger between Bryan Cave and BLP last year.

A number of London-based partners have left to join a variety of firms, including CMS, White & Case, McDermott Will & Emery and King & Spalding. Its head of private client litigation partner Rupert Ticehurst left for City boutique private wealth firm Maurice Turnor Gardner in October last year.

Ashurst global head of investment funds Piers Warburton said: "Nicola is an excellent and very well-respected lawyer who will significantly boost the capability of our investment funds team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in advising top-tier clients on a wide range of fund formation and investment transactions."

Other recent Ashurst City hires include Baker McKenzie securitisation head Jonathan Walsh and Squire Patton Boggs real estate disputes partner Alison Hardy.