Wragge & Co's Paris office has seen the departure of a seven-lawyer team, including two partners, to French law firm Franklin.

Real estate partner Henry Ranchon and finance partner David Blondel are leaving the UK firm alongside of counsel Juliette Bril and associates Charles Amar, Nadia Genisio, Suzy Lasry and Sebastien Sehili.

The departures leave Wragges with a total of 28 lawyers in Paris, including nine partners. The firm launched in the French capital in 2010 with the hire of a 10-partner team from French referral firm Lefevre Pelletier & Associes, which included both Rachon and Blondel.

Ranchon advises French and overseas real estate funds and property companies on investments and developments in France and abroad, while Blondel has specific experience of financial structured finance and debt restructuring mandates.

The hires take Franklin's real estate practice headcount to three partners, four of counsel and seven associates, while Blondel will help to establish a bank finance team for the firm, which was founded in 2000.

The hires come after Franklin last June recruited a five-lawyer team from legacy Salans, including partner Francois Verdot.

Wragges' move into Paris in 2010 marked a shift from the firm's previously UK-focused strategy. The Birmingham-based firm also has an EU law-focused branch in Brussels and small offices in China and Germany which specialise in intellectual property work.