Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer private equity star Adrian Maguire has quit to join Kirkland & Ellis in London, in the latest blow to the magic circle firm.

Maguire, who has been a partner at Freshfields for more than two decades, has held a number of leadership positions at the magic circle firm, most recently serving as co-head of global financial investors.

One person with knowledge of the situation said Maguire handed in his notice this week. Three others added they were aware of the move.

Maguire has recently been on a lengthy sabbatical from the firm, from June to November last year.

He has advised key Freshfields client Cinven on a number of major deals in recent years, including the £2.4bn sale of legal process outsourcer CPA Global to US private equity firm Leonard Green Partners in 2017, and its purchase of European pet food manufacturer Partner in Pet Food last year. He has also acted for Aston Martin Holdings and Warburg Pincus during his time at the magic circle firm.

His move will reunite him with former Freshfields private equity partner David Higgins, whose move to Kirkland last year shook the market.

A number of other heavyweight partners have left Freshfields in recent months. Departures last year included heavyweight corporate and capital markets partner Ashar Qureshi, who moved to Fried Frank, high-yield star Ward McKimm who left to rejoin Shearman & Sterling, and litigation partner Reza Mohtashami QC who quit for litigation boutique Three Crowns.

Kirkland dethroned Latham & Watkins as the world's largest law firm by revenue last year, taking in $3.165bn, and has continued its sustained recruitment push in the City. Last year, the firm launched a London intellectual property practice with the hire of Allen & Overy global IP head Nicola Dagg and an accompanying team.

The firm has also recently moved to launch its second continental European base, in Paris, with the hire of a pair of Linklaters partners in the French capital.