Eversheds will run its Shanghai office without any partners following the departure of its two most senior lawyers.

The firm's senior partner in the office, Jean-Marc Deschandol has already left the firm, while Iris Duchetsmann, the firm's current head of employment for Asia, will depart at the end of this month.

Both Deschandol, who was China managing partner at Norton Rose for seven years before joining Eversheds in 2007, and Duchetsmann are understood to be moving to other firms, though no further details have been given.

Eversheds said that the Shanghai office would remain open following the latter's departure, but will be run by its existing nine fee earners. Jack Cai, an of counsel in the firm's corporate group, has been appointed to lead the office.

"Eversheds continues to see great opportunities in China and is firmly committed to growing the firm's presence and resource in Shanghai and our newly opened office in Beijing," said a spokesperson for the firm.

"The office has now reached a level of maturity where a clearer and more integrated focus is required to take the next step to bring it fully in line with Eversheds' international strategy.

"These recent changes present an opportunity for us to establish a new strategy for the development of our Shanghai office which will now be led by Jack Cai. Jack has strong connections with the Eversheds international network and the Shanghai business community and is enthusiastic about our plans for the future development of the office and more generally in China."

The changes follow a wider shake up the firm's Asian management team this year, including the February appointment of corporate specialist Stephen Kitts as the new managing partner for the region after the sudden departure of former Asia head Nick Seddon.

UK managing partner Lee Ranson meanwhile took executive responsibility for the overall development of the firm's Asia business.

Other changes in the region include the appointment of ex-Morgan Lewis corporate energy partner Ingrid Zhu-Clark to lead the new Beijing office, which launched in May as its fifth regional base.

The firm also made Paris-based Virginie Deslandres its new China head for Europe in June after the departure of partner Sharon Shi, who left the firm for a general counsel role at Shanghai Environment Group.