King & Wood Mallesons' (KWM) China arm has agreed a deal to retain a three-partner team in Frankfurt, as further details emerge about what the firm will be left with in Europe after the legacy SJ Berwin business goes into administration.

Frankfurt corporate partners Christian Cornett, Rudiger Knopf and Rudolf Haas will remain with KWM after the firm's European business files for administration, which is expected to take place early next week.

Sources close to the matter have told Legal Week that Cornett and Shanghai corporate partner Mark Schaub led the discussions between the Frankfurt team and KWM China.

Other partners across Europe are continuing to find new homes, with Munich competition partner Tilman Siebert and Frankfurt dispute resolution partner Francis Bellen set to join Reed Smith with a team of associates. KWM's Munich office is expected to close.

Earlier today (13 January), Bird & Bird announced that it is taking on Frankfurt employment partner Barbara Geck along with associate Daniela Gudat.

One former KWM Germany partner told Legal Week: "The damage done to the brand in Europe was too severe for me to consider an offer from KWM China. But for those who are working on relevant matters with China, it does make sense to stay."

Legal Week revealed yesterday (12 January) that a deal has now been finalised for KWM China to keep on 30-40 partners across Europe, although complete details – including the full list of countries in which KWM will maintain a presence – are as yet unconfirmed.

In London, lawyers who have held talks to stay on with the firm include banking partner Vanessa Docherty, corporate partners Joseph Newitt, Greg Stonefield and Wang Lianghau, international arbitration partner Andrei Yakovlev and dispute resolution partners Dorothy Murray and Darren Roiser, as well as a team of litigation associates.

Beijing corporate partner Rupert Li is currently in London and has been overseeing the discussions between KWM China and City partners. Li, who joined KWM in 2010 as international managing partner, is a former partner at Clifford Chance, where he was a member of the firm's partnership council.

KWM Europe first filed an intention of notice to appoint administrators on 22 December, with a second intention of notice filed this Tuesday (10 January), giving the firm more time to negotiate a deal to assemble a European business ahead of a move into administration.

Partners, lawyers and other staff are continuing to find new homes, with London firm Bircham Dyson Bell this week agreeing a deal to take on the firm's Cambridge office. US firm Goodwin Procter is taking on a significant number of lawyers from the disintegrating firm, including six partners, 15 associates and five trainees in London, as well as a five-lawyer team in Paris.

Reed Smith has already hired a number of KWM partners, including City tax head Gareth Amdor and financial regulatory partner David Calligan, with London equity capital markets head Delphine Currie, financial regulatory partner Tim Dolan and finance partner Tamasin Little all also expected to join the US firm.

Other firms have picked up partners including Baker McKenzie, Fieldfisher, Debevoise & Plimpton, Stephenson Harwood, DLA Piper, Greenberg Traurig, Macfarlanes, K&L Gates, Winston & Strawn, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Fieldfisher, Addleshaw Goddard, Covington & Burling, Keystone Law and Proskauer Rose.