Speaking first to Lawyers Weekly, Fuzi (pictured) said the time was right to seek a fresh challenge.

“I can say with actual sincerity that I truly don’t know where I will be in 12 months’ time,” he said.

Fuzi retired from the Clayton Utz partnership in December 2009. In February 2010 it was announced that Fuzi and 13 other Clayton Utz partners had been poached by the Magic Circle firm to open its Australian practice in Sydney and Perth.

Fuzi and Clayton Utz settled legal action in 2010 relating to his departure from the Australian firm.

Fuzi said that this time around his next career move would be “100 per cent outside of the law”.

“It [the next role] will not be in another law firm,” he said. “I would never be in another law firm but this firm I love so much.” He added: “It will be something that is different and an area where I feel a real purpose and passion for.”

Fuzi formally announced his decision to retire from the firm on Wednesday evening (11 June). He will remain as the firm’s Australian senior partner, which is effectively the domestic head, until at least Christmas, and said he would leave the firm’s partnership shortly after.

Fuzi said telling the firm’s partnership was the “most emotional thing I have ever done in my career” and he said he was not pressured to stand down.

“This couldn’t be more my decision.”

David Morley, Allen & Overy’s London-based global senior partner paid tribute to Fuzi’s “restless energy”.

“Grant’s vision and drive was core to the establishment of our Australian offices and has been an ongoing driving force behind the success of our Australian offices,” he said.

“He will be leaving with our very best wishes and our gratitude for all he has achieved.”

Over the course of Fuzi’s tenure, A&O has grown significantly in Australia, with its Sydney office now being one of the firm’s largest in the Asia-Pacific.

A&O now has over 200 staff in Australia.

The firm’s Australian partners will elect a successor to Fuzi, who refused to anoint a successor when asked who his preferred replacement would be.

In April, Lawyers Weekly exclusively revealed that Sharon Cook would be leaving as the head of Henry Davis York at the end of 2014.