Mayer Brown is set to see five partner departures from its London office in the coming weeks, with the outgoing partners joining firms including White & Case and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Commercial litigators Simon Willis and Matthew Lawson are departing from the US firm to join Orrick's London office.

Both partners have worked on complex disputes with a multi-jurisdictional element – their client base includes the big four accountancy firms, as well as corporate clients and other professional services firms including actuaries, surveyors, stockbrokers and solicitors.

The pair is joined at Orrick by Mayer Brown's London co-head of capital markets Stephanie Bates.

Meanwhile, James Dodsworth, a commercial real estate partner advising private equity houses, investment banks and real estate investment and development companies, is also leaving Mayer Brown to join rival US firm White & Case in its London office.

Litigation partner Andrew Legg, will be joining Eversheds' London office as a partner.

Commenting on the hire, Eversheds litigation chief Ian Gray said: "Andrew joining us is part of a continued investment in this practice; he is the eighth litigation partner to join us in the City in the last three years."

Mayer Brown declined to comment on the reason for the departures, but confirmed that capital markets co-head Bates had retired from the partnership.

Orrick, which also recently hired Norton Rose corporate partner Anthony Riley and an in-house duo from Liquid Capital, is attempting to rebuild its London arm following a string of departures.