Clifford Chance (CC) Perth managing partner Michael Lishman is set to leave the firm to join wealth management group Gresham Partners.

Lishman, who is an M&A partner, is expected to leave CC in early 2015. He will lead the Perth office until his departure to Gresham where he will become managing director and head of its Western Australia operations.

CC said it expects to announce a replacement for Lishman in the new year. Lishman is a co-founder of legacy Perth firm Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe, which merged with CC in 2011 alongside Sydney's Chang Pistilli & Simmons. The deal marked CC's launch in Australia.

Lishman's departure comes after fellow Cochrane Lishman founder Ian Cochrane retired from CC's partnership at the end of last year. Both set up the firm in 2006 after leaving legacy Mallesons Stephen Jaques, now part of King & Wood Mallesons.

CC managing partner Matthew Layton said: "Michael Lishman has made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of Clifford Chance in Australia, and we wish him well in his new position as managing director and head of Western Australia in Gresham Partners' Perth office.

"In only three and a half years, Michael, together with Mark Pistilli in Sydney, has overseen the integration of our Australian practices into our global network, a doubling of staff and revenue in Australia, and the acquisition of many new and important clients for the firm. He leaves us in very good shape for the future, for which we thank him. […] We look forward to continuing our relationship with him in the years ahead."