Mark Vickers

Long-time Ashurst banking partner Mark Vickers is to retire from the firm this April, following a near 40-year stint in the profession.

Vickers, who has been a partner at the firm since 1999, is one of the UK's leading practitioners on leveraged finance transactions, having acted for the likes of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, UBS, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland. He has also worked with the likes of Barclays and Lloyds.

At Ashurst, he is one of the firm's best-known partners and has served on the firm's global board twice, between 2004 and 2007 and between 2013 and 2017. In addition, he held roles including head of banking in Europe and global managing partner of restructuring.

He joined the firm in 1999 from legacy Dibb Lupton Alsop (now DLA Piper), where he had worked for almost 20 years and held the role of head of banking.

Commenting on his move, the 61-year-old said: "I'm a great believer in the seasons of life. It has been a huge privilege to have been in in the banking market in London during a period of massive growth and change. I've enjoyed working with clients but also investing in people. We have some brilliant people coming through the ranks and it is only right to let them now carry the baton."

A keen tank driver and helicopter pilot, Vickers will remain as chairman of London's Air Ambulance service and continues to have involvement with the Territorial Army.

Ashurst's banking practice is led by Martyn Rogers, who heads up the group across Europe and the US, while the firm's finance team is led by Helen Burton.