SJ Berwin has seen the departure of two City partners, with competition partner Niamh Grogan set to join Lloyds Banking Group and real estate partner Michael Metliss joining Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP).

Grogan (pictured), who has been a partner at SJ Berwin since 2003, is joining Lloyds' risk division as group competition director in December.

SJ Berwin has 11 partners in its international EU & competition group following the departure, including eight in London. These include group head Stephen Kon as well as former managing partner Ralph Cohen, who rejoined the group as a full-time fee earner earlier this month (1 November) when Rob Day took over as managing partner.

A spokesperson for SJ Berwin said: "We wish Niamh all the best in her new, senior position. Lloyds Banking Group is a valued client of the firm and she leaves a great team of competition specialists behind her."

Meanwhile, City real estate disputes partner Michael Metliss has joined City rival BLP as a partner. Metliss, who made partner at SJ Berwin in 1991, was the firm's head of property litigation.

His departure comes after SJ Berwin lost a four-partner real estate team led by practice head Jon Vivian earlier this autumn to Irwin Mitchell. The team also comprised partners Lewis Myers, Rob Thompson and Jo Footitt.

BLP's joint head of real estate disputes Roger Cohen said: "Michael is one of the leading real estate litigators in the country and has excellent relationships with both clients and intermediaries. His appointment demonstrates our commitment to employ leading individuals to offer our real estate clients a wider breadth of skills."

SJ Berwin, which is currently in advanced merger discussions with Proskauer Rose, has yet to name a replacement for Grogan in her role as chair of the firm's corporate social responsibility committee.