Partner turnover at Linklaters’ City headquarters looks set to reach record levels in 2002 as it emerges that at least nine London partners have left the firm in the last 12 months ahead of retirement age.

The news comes in the week it was confirmed four partners were to leave the firm’s 188-partner London base. The four follow the departure of corporate partner James Croock, who in May moved to Dechert as London head of corporate.