Baker & McKenzie has decided by a unanimous vote to expel Vienna partner Christoph Kerres from the firm. Kerres, who has been practising for almost 20 years, was being investigated following allegations of professional misconduct.

In a statement Baker & McKenzie said that the decision to sack Kerres was taken "in light of various conduct of Kerres considered inconsistent with his remaining a partner of Baker & McKenzie".

The firm's policy committee conducted an investigation into the allegations in April this year. Kerres remained as a partner at the firm continuing in his duties and client work while the investigation was carried out.

The rest of Bakers' Vienna office, which was formed in 2003 by a takeover of Viennese firm Kerres & Diwok, will continue to act as part of the firm. The office has five other partners and 15 legal staff in total. Kerres practised in the area of M&A and international arbitration.

Speaking to Legal Week, Kerres denied that he was being expelled from the firm and said that as general manager of Kerres & Diwok he last week had handed in notice to terminate his alliance with Baker McKenzie due to cultural differences, particularly with the Frankfurt office.

"I believe that Baker McKenzie has issued this press release as a consequence of me handing in this notice," he said.

However, Bakers said that claims made by Kerres to the effect that Kerres & Diwok has "terminated its membership" of Baker & McKenzie are untrue and notices issued by him which purport to achieve this separation are legally invalid.