SNR Denton has seen its Paris office hit by a 10-lawyer walkout to US firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed, led by three partners.

The departing partners comprise former Paris head Sena Agbayissah, who currently leads the Paris banking practice, local technology, media and telecommunications head Stefan Naumann and M&A partner Alain Vincent.

Agbayissah was office managing partner until last year, when US partner Fruman Jacobson, was named Paris administrative partner and started to split his time between the US and France. Jacobson's appointment came as part of the transatlantic firm's plans to boost EMEA profitability, with local Paris fee income falling by 32% to £6.5m in 2010-11.

The trio – who are joined by seven additional fee earners – are set to leave SNR Denton this week, leaving local litigation and arbitration head Constantin Achillas as the sole full-time partner in the office.

The hire represents a significant boost to Hughes Hubbard's Paris arm, taking the base to around 30 lawyers.

Hughes Hubbard managing partner Ted Mayer said the firm, which opened in Paris in 1966, had been looking for the right opportunity to expand its Paris office with high quality laterals.

He commented: "Sena, Alain and Stefan fit perfectly with our existing practices and our plans for the future. We are excited that a group of such exceptional quality is joining the firm, and also with the opportunities that their extensive client relationships bring to our Paris office and the firm in general. We are confident that they will take their practice to an even higher level at Hughes Hubbard."

Achillas would not discuss the future of the Paris office or his own plans. SNR Denton declined to comment but is understood to be looking at options to rebuild in Paris.