Baker & McKenzie and White & Case are in the process of relocating two of their senior banking partners to Paris and Singapore respectively in a move to bulk up those offices.

Bakers EMEA head of banking and finance Michael Foundethakis moved to Paris last month to lead the local banking and finance practice, replacing Laurent Barbara in the post.

He will keep his existing roles leading the EMEA finance team, the global project finance practice and the German acquisition finance and project finance practice.

Meanwhile, White & Case's head of banking and capital markets in Western Europe, Middle East and Africa (WEMEA), David Barwise, is set to relocate to Singapore next February. Barwise will take the number of finance partners in Singapore to nine. The firm is currently reviewing who will take over Barwise's vacant WEMEA role.

Barwise said: "We have seen an increasing amount of work in the Asia practice and are looking to grow it further. I have seen increased demand from my clients investing in the region and it is important from a strategic perspective that as many partners as possible get international experience."

Foundethakis said: "Though Munich is important and will remain so for my practice, it seemed more appropriate in my current role for me to be located in Paris."