Withers partners set up on their own as private client market shake-up continues

Harcus Sinclair: Duchess of York's divorce lawyer takes clients from City player to new firm

City firm Withers' global private client practice plan has been rebuffed by two of its leading divorce partners.James Harcus - who acted for the Duchess of York in her divorce from Prince Andrew - and Keith Bruce-Smith, a tax and trusts partner, left Withers this month after its merger with US firm Bergman Horowitz & Reynolds to set up Harcus Sinclair.It is the third niche private client practice to split from a City firm in the past year, underlining the dispute in the market, with some players saying that high overheads will make global private client firms unprofitable.Three assistants have also moved, and will - although barely five years qualified - be partners.

Family law assistant Harriet Burge and matrimonial lawyer Damon Parker are serving notice periods, while trusts lawyer Lucy Gibson has already jumped ship.'All three of them would have got partnership at Withers,' Mr Harcus said.

Harcus Sinclair is now looking for premises.

It has no partner named Sinclair - the name was chosen by Mr Bruce-Smith.The merged Withers was touted as the first firm dedicated to the globally wealthy.

It has hinted at plans to open in Los Angeles and Switzerland.Harcus Sinclair follows Alexiou Fisher Philipps, formed by a team from Gordon Dadds, and Hughes Fowler Carruthers, formed by defectors from Bates Wells & Braithwaite.Mr Harcus said it had been a 'very amicable parting', and that he had taken virtually all his clients with him.Margaret Robertson, joint managing director and partner at Withers, said: 'James didn't share the same vision, but we wish them well.' She said Withers has appointed four top-quality partners since December.Jeremy Fleming