Linklaters is searching for a Swedish managing partner after Joergen Durban's surprise decision to stand down from the post.

Banking and finance partner Durban, who has been a partner with the firm since 2001, when the magic circle giant merged with legacy law firm Lagerloef & Leman, will return to fee earning after two years as office head.

Durban was part of the Lagerloef management committee and led the merger negotiations between the two firms.

A Linklaters spokesman said a consultation on the new leadership was underway. It is understood that a re-jig of the office's management structure, which could see two partners share management duties, is being considered.

Linklaters boasts one of Sweden's largest corporate groups but the 21-partner office has seen a number of departures in the last year.

Tax partner Mats Anderson and litigation partner Henrik Bielenstein both retired in April 2007, while technology, media and telecoms practice head Joergen Axellson left for local firm Setterwells. IT partners Stefan Bernhard and Peter Nordbeck, meanwhile, joined Bird & Bird and Delphi & Co respectively.

Former local private equity head Jens Bengtsson also left, joining Roschier Holmberg.

Stockholm is not Linklaters' only European office to have seen its numbers drop. In April, it emerged that the firm was cutting back its presence in Berlin by dispatching around half of the office's full-time partners to other offices.