The departure of Boies Schiller Flexner co-managing partner and former deputy chair Natasha Harrison was not a shock for the firm’s attorneys and its leadership following her decision in September to step back from her role as deputy chair.

Boies Schiller co-managing partners Sigrid McCawley and Matthew Schwartz said in an interview with Law.com Wednesday night that Harrison’s decision to relinquish her deputy chair role, one that was viewed by many within the firm as the steppingstone to eventually leading the firm, was a precursor to her departure. She and the firm said at the time that she had done so for personal and professional reasons.