So long, Sall-ans. Or is it Sale-ans?

Is it because of the merger with SNR Denton and Fraser Milner Casgrain? Or the way Salans got its partners to vote publicly on the tie-up in front of colleagues?

Whatever the reason, Salans has been shedding partners since the merger was confirmed. Even in the months running up to the announcement, partners were heading off. Today’s news is the departure of Frankfurt regulatory partner Ivana Mikešić, a day after German restructuring duo Dietmar Schulz and Mike Danielewsky revealed that they were quitting for DLA Piper.

September, meanwhile, saw the exit of real estate partner Nick Ellis to join Keystone Law, while in November there was confirmation of Ogletree Deakins’ Berlin launch with a trio of Salans partners including global employment co-chair Henrik Muchal.

SNR Denton has stated unequivocally that the post-merger firm, which will be known as Dentons, has no intention of cutting partner or associate ranks as a result of the combination, although a review of back-office needs is underway.

Perhaps this is because it doesn’t need a formal restructuring to help slim down partner numbers. It seems they’re just jumping of their own accord.

Presumably they just want to move to a firm whose name they know how to pronounce.

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Also on TheLawyer.com:

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• Jones Day makes up six lawyers to partner in London
• Dundas & Wilson sees its head of pensions head off for Scottish rival Maclay Murray & Spens
• And, amid last week’s unveiling of PFI reforms, Bevan Brittan partner Christopher Jarman argues that lawyers have a moral imperative to give infrastructure a boost