Norton Rose Fulbright Australia has lost an experienced construction and projects partner with the retirement of Melbourne-based Grant Ahearn, who worked at the firm for nearly four decades.

Ahearn had been with the firm and its predecessor, specialist construction firm Deacons, since 1985 and is the latest of several partners to have left the construction and projects practice. His LinkedIn profile states he is now self-employed and "on sabbatical until end of November."