Top competition partner Stephen Kinsella has resigned from Herbert Smith. The firm will hold Kinsella, who works in its Brussels office, to a six-month gardening leave


The six-month term is fixed by Herbert Smith’s partnership deed. However, other high-profile departees were not held to it, including Robert Volterra, who went to Latham & Watkins earlier this year, and Gerald Bland, who joined Wragge & Co in 2002.

A Herbert Smith spokesperson said: “After 20 years Stephen has decided to leave with a view to considering other options.” He added that the firm’s competition department had had its best year to date.

Kinsella was unavailable for comment.