News this summer that Linklaters real estate head Anne Byrne had resigned from the firm to join Capital & Counties Properties as its first in-house lawyer capped a tumultuous few months for the magic circle practice, once the pre-eminent property team in the City.
In the months leading to her departure the firm saw a string of exits, some forced, others voluntary. These included Joe Conder, who last year moved to Goodwin Procter, Claire Watson, who transferred to Berwin Leighton Paisner, and Huw Baker and Julian Innes-Taylor who left to join LG alongside ex-Herbert Smith partner Clare Fielding.
