SJ Berwin has confirmed that it is to lose two funds partners to US firm Proskauer Rose, after merger talks between the two firms were called off last year.

City funds partner Nigel van Zyl has resigned to join Proskauer's London office alongside fellow partner Oliver Rochman.

Van Zyl has been a partner in SJ Berwin's private funds group since 2007, having joined the firm in 2000, and his clients include HgCapital, Lion Capital, Hermes Private Equity, Unilever and Rabobank.

His practice focuses on advising fund managers and investors on the establishment and operation of private funds, with a particular focus on Europe, Asia and Africa.

Rochman was made up to the partnership earlier this year.

SJ Berwin senior partner Jonathan Blake said in a statement: "Whilst we're sorry that [van Zyl and Rochman] are leaving, we remain the undisputed market leader for funds with more partners and associates dedicated to this area in the UK and across Europe than any of our competitors.

"Our deep expertise across a very broad team has been built over many years and we're committed to maintaining and developing that for the benefit of our clients."

The pair's move to Proskauer comes after merger talks between SJ Berwin and the US firm ended in November last year.

SJ Berwin's funds team also saw a number of senior departures to a US firm back in 2007, when a three-partner team joined Kirkland & Ellis's London office, including private equity partner Mark Mifsud as well as partners Richard Watkins and Justin Dolling.

The most recent departures come just weeks after Clifford Chance lost the bulk of its City funds practice to a US rival, with a four-partner team exiting the firm to join Weil Gotshal & Manges in London.

Proskauer also boosted its London office this April with two senior hires from Jones Day, with London managing partner Russell Carmedy and European private equity head Michael Nouril making the move.