Senior Allen & Overy (A&O) US corporate partner Mark Roppel has left the firm in New York to join DLA Piper in the city, with news of the exit coming as Hong Kong partner Alan Ewins prepares to relocate to London.

Roppel, who joined the magic circle firm’s China practice in Shanghai in 2008 having previously worked as the Beijing office head for Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, was a high profile partner in A&O’s US corporate team with more than 20 years of experience.