Michelle Kirschner, Gibson Dunn

Macfarlanes financial regulation partner Michelle Kirschner has left the firm to join U.S. firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher's London office.

Kirschner has been a partner at Macfarlanes since 2012, having joined from Linklaters where she had been for 10 years. Her practice focuses on non-contentious financial services regulation, and while at Macfarlanes she has advised clients on navigating their anticipated challenges and options following Brexit.

While partner departures are relatively rare for Macfarlanes, a flurry of lawyers have quit in the last 18 months.

Head of digital and innovation advisory Mike Rebeiro left the firm this summer, while private client property head Tristan Ward and private client property senior consultant Michael Ranson left the firm in February. Meanwhile, its investment fund finance head Bronwen Jones left the firm after 14 years to join Reed Smith's London office.

However, the firm has made several hires in recent months, including former Ropes & Gray special situations partner Peter Baldwin in April, and in February it brought Ashurst corporate heavyweight Robert Ogilvy-Watson onboard.

A spokesperson for Macfarlanes said in a statement: "We are grateful for Michelle's help in driving our financial services regulation practice forward over the last few years and wish her well with her new challenge."