The number of partners to quit Clifford Chance’s (CC’s) US operation has hit 16 over the past 12 months following the news that former US M&A head and Americas management board member Steven Hobbs is leaving for an in-house position.

Hobbs, a partner at CC since 1993, is leaving the firm’s New York arm to become chief legal officer at Hearst-Argyle Television on 21 January.