Capital markets partner Christopher Owen has left Allen & Overy's (A&O's) Moscow office to join Lovell White Durrant in London – leaving A&O's Moscow operation with just two UK-qualified partners.
Meanwhile, Denton Hall has confirmed the arrival as a partner of A&O energy partner Doran Doeh, who transferred from Moscow to London last November. The move was revealed by Legal Week in April.
The departures follow A&O's decision last September to make six Russian associates in its Moscow office redundant.
The Moscow office now has 24 lawyers and four partners – but the shedding of further Russian associates is not being ruled out.
"We are hunkering down long-term just to survive," said managing partner Chris Roberts.
"We can have a week where we are twiddling our thumbs."
He said the dearth of capital markets work and inward investment in Moscow had forced the office to focus on debt restructuring.
Explaining the reasons behind his departure, Owen said: "I tried to persuade A&O to give me a London base and a wider role, but they didn't."
Owen will become a partner with Lovells' international capital markets in August and will stay in London for the time being.
Doeh will join Dentons' energy and infrastructure group in June.