White & Case real estate partner David Cox has left the firm to join King & Spalding's London base, in the third departure from the US firm's City office this week.

Cox had been a partner at White & Case since 2003 and served as head of real estate and real estate finance in London for 11 years until 2014.

His departure follows that of corporate finance partner duo Rob Mathews and David Becker, who joined Baker McKenzie earlier this week (7 January).

Partner losses are a rarity for White & Case's London office, which has made numerous hires in recent years. However, the operation saw global private equity co-head Richard Youle leave for Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in 2017 alongside private equity partner Katja Butler.

Commenting on Cox's departure, a White & Case spokesperson said: '"We wish him every success in his future endeavours."

Cox is the second partner to join King & Spalding's City base recently, after it hired Hogan Lovells M&A partner Derek Meilman last month.

At the start of 2018, King & Spalding City managing partner Thomas Sprange QC set out the firm's aims to target London growth in practices including white-collar crime, corporate and energy.

Other hires during last year included legacy Berwin Leighton Paisner head of corporate crime and investigations Aaron Stephens as a partner in its special matters and government investigations team, and former Bank of England enforcement head Robert Dedman.

Tom Sprange, King & Spalding's London managing partner, said: "We have welcomed quality recruits in practices such as investigations and M&A already in recent months, so enhancing our real estate expertise continues that momentum."