Clifford Chance West Coast hit by three partner losses in two days

Clifford Chance’s West Coast practice has lost another two partners, making a total of three defections in just one week.

Securities litigation partners Dean Kristy and Kevin Muck, both San Francisco-based, are leaving for Fenwick & West. Their move arrives just two days after partner Craig Waldman jumped ship for Cooley Godward’s Palo Alto office.

Unlike Waldman, who moved to the West Coast from Clifford Chance’s New York office, Kristy and Muck came to the firm from Brobeck Phleger & Harrison two years ago.

A spokesman for Clifford Chance, said: "The movement of partners between law firms has become a common dynamic in today’s legal landscape."

He added that the firm was close to announcing laterals in other regions.