Hammonds is to lose two equity partners with construction partner Rupert Cowen and real estate partner Martin Fleckenstein set to leave the national firm.

Both partners handed in their notice earlier this week (30 September), on one of only two days each year on which equity partners are able to resign from Hammonds.

It is currently unclear where Birmingham-based Cowen and Berlin-based partner Fleckenstein are moving to.

In addition, Leeds employment partner Mark Shrives-Wright has left the firm for personal reasons. He handed in his notice before the official day when partners are allowed to do so.

Hammonds managing partner Peter Crossley commented: "We are sorry that Rupert and Martin have resigned from the firm and we wish them well for the future. However, we are confident in the strength of our international construction and real estate teams and these departures will not lead to any change in our strategy going forward."

Hammonds controversially overhauled its partnership agreement in 2006 in the wake of a string of partner walkouts, bringing in measures that left equity partners with only two windows each year in which to resign – 30 September and 31 March.

The last set of departures on 31 March 2009 saw four of the top 30 firm's senior partners leave the firm – human capital partners David Beswick and Jay Doraisamy and corporate finance partners Amanda Allen and Martin Letza.