Shearman & Sterling's European offices have seen a further partner departure, with Brussels office managing partner Hans Juergen Meyer-Lindemann leaving for Dechert.

The news comes a week after the US firm announced it was to close its Munich and Duesseldorf offices, leaving it with one remaining base in Germany.

Meyer-Lindemann, who joins as a partner in Dechert's antitrust and competition practice, will split his time between the firm's Brussels and Frankfurt offices.

He practises both German and EU competition law and advises on high-profile merger control cases before the European Commission and national competition authorities and major cartel investigations across a variety of industries.

"We are very pleased that Juergen is joining the firm," said Michael Weiner, co-chair of Dechert's global competition and antitrust group.

"His knowledge and experience, especially in merger and non-merger investigations, as well as his litigation skills, fit in perfectly with our existing practice and our clients' needs."

Shearman's office closures in Germany, which it is understood staff were only made aware of last Tuesday (23 April), will result in a number of partners relocating to Frankfurt – including Duesseldorf senior partner Georg Thoma.

It is also expected to lead to a number of lawyers and staff leaving Shearman in Germany, with the firm still reviewing the possibility of redundancies. It is not yet clear how many positions could be affected.

Speaking to Legal Week, the firm said its other European bases in Brussels, London, Milan, Paris and Rome, were not under review.