Eastwell to leave the law after 27-year love affair with Links

Retiring Linklaters stalwart Nick Eastwell is to leave the law altogether once his 27-year stint at the magic circle firm comes to an end in October.

Eastwell said he made his decision to retire during the break between Christmas and New Year, but did not make it public until managing partner Simon Davies had appointed a successor to Eastwell’s head of emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa role.

Project finance partner Stuart Salt will succeed Eastwell at the end of April.

Eastwell told The Lawyer: “I’m ;not ;going ;to ;be ­completely idle, but I’m not interested in jumping to a competitor or working full-time. I’ve got Linklaters in my blood. I no longer have the desire to spend all night proofreading ;offering ­circulars or negotiating indemnities in subscription agreements. I’m looking forward to the end of October and a feeling of liberation.”

In an email to clients seen by The Lawyer, Eastwell said he would be ­taking up “new challenges, some ­market-related, ;some ­advisory, some pro bono and some energetic.”