Yahoo Inc has lost its company secretary and general counsel Jon Sobel to San Francisco-based Folger Levin & Kahn.

The 70-partner firm hopes that Sobel’s move will help strengthen its relationship with Yahoo, which is already an existing client.

Sobel, who is due to join Folger Levin as a partner at the end of October, will be replaced by Yahoo’s deputy general counsel Michael Callahan. Before joining Yahoo, Callahan spent four years at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

Folger Levin’s senior partner Doug Sullivan said that Sobel left Yahoo on very good terms. He added: “I can’t emphasise how much he was wanted at Yahoo. Yahoo is extremely disappointed to let him go.”

Sobel specialises in both litigation and commercial work.