A founding partner of the litigation boutique known until March 30 as Ashe Rafuse & Hill, R. Lawrence Ashe, said his law partners’ efforts to force him into retirement spurred the 72-year-old litigator to leave the firm instead.

But managing partner and co-founder Nancy Rafuse denied any such pressure, saying that she and the other name partners of what is now Rafuse, Hill & Hodges were surprised last month when Ashe announced his intention to resign.