DLA Piper Leeds office managing partner Neil McLean is to retire after 17 years at the firm.

The property partner will stand down at the end of April 2011. He will be replaced by finance partner Sarah Day.

McLean, who was head of DLA Piper’s real estate practice in the UK for three years and also served on the firm’s international board between 2006 and 2009, will continue to work with the firm in an advisory capacity.

He commented: “I’ve been proud to build my career at DLA Piper. Our practice in Leeds has had 10 years of successful development and growth on the local, regional, national and international scene and I know Sarah will lead the office to even greater success.”

Day, who joined the firm in May 1998, specialises in highly structured and cross-border financial transactions including leveraged and public-to-private transactions. Sheis currently a member of the DLA Piper international board.