Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is set to lose two of its private client lawyers, including its private client property head Tristan Ward, while picking up another partner from Charles Russell Speechlys in a rare instance of partner churn at the City firm.

Ward will join newly-merged firm BDB Pitmans, which was formed through the merger of Bircham Dyson Bell and Pitmans in April last year, according to a press statement by the firm.

Meanwhile, Macfarlanes is hiring Charles Russell Speechlys head of private client property Ian Cooke. Cooke joined Charles Russell Speechlys in 1997 from Norton Rose Fulbright.

In a statement, Piers Barclay, head of private client at Macfarlanes, said: "Residential real estate is a core part of the offering of our market-leading private client practice. Ian has a mandate to take this practice area forward in a way that reflects the long-term demand that we see from our clients."

Macfarlanes also said in a statement that private client property senior consultant Michael Ranson will be leaving the firm in June to pursue a career at the Bar, which the firm said he had expressed a wish to do in 2017.

A spokesperson for Macfarlanes said: "Both Tristan and Michael have made a great contribution to this practice area over a long period and the firm wishes them well for the future."

While departures from Macfarlanes are relatively rare, Ward will be the third partner to exit the City outfit in just over a year, with investment fund finance head Bronwen Jones leaving last February to join Reed Smith, and private equity partner Emmie Jones joining White & Case in July last year.

Other recent hires for Macfarlanes include Ashurst heavyweight corporate partner Robert Ogilvy-Watson, and Eversheds Sutherland corporate crime and investigations head Neill Blundell, who came in last March to launch a white-collar practice for the firm.