Ashurst has seen a raft of partner exits in the past few days, including Singapore managing partner Shaun Lascelles and former Hong Kong managing partner Lina Lee. 

Lee has joined Allen & Overy along with former Ashurst Hong Kong partner Jonathan Hsui. Lee stepped down as Ashurst's MP in July 2016, with Joshua Cole taking over, while Lascelles joined Ashurst last year from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. 

Other Asia-based partners to depart recently include Singapore partner Keith McGuire, who joined PwC Legal and Hong Kong partner Bertie Mehigan, who joined local outfit Howse Williams Bowers.

It is understood that London finance partner Nigel Ward has left for Paul Hastings, while Ashurt’s firm's Abu Dhabi head Alastair Holland has joined U.S. firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost, all in the past few days. 

Ashurst recently announced a 19 percent drop in profit per equity partner of 603,000 pounds ($797,690) in the past financial year, down from 747,000 pounds ($988,183) the year before.

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