Edwards Wildman Palmer's City base has been left with no management figures on the ground, with office managing partner Nick Bolter understood to have been relieved of his leadership role.

It is thought that the office is currently being managed remotely by former Edwards Wildman managing partner Walter Reed, who is based in Rhode Island. It is understood that management responsibility was transferred to Reed earlier this autumn.

Bolter (pictured), who is an intellectual property partner, was initially appointed London managing partner in 2012.

The move comes as US firm Cooley continues to circle a large faction of the London partnership, with a view to launching its first City office in the coming months. It is understood that several partners, including Bolter, have been in talks to join the California-based firm.

Edwards Wildman signed a letter of intent to merge with Locke Lord in September and are expected to vote on the proposed union in coming weeks.

If approved, a combination would create a 1,000-lawyer firm with revenue of more than $675m (£418.8m), which would be known as Locke Lord Edwards. It is however not clear how the merger will affect their overlapping London offices.

Edwards Wildman's City base has suffered a series of partner departures in the last few months, including IP partner Ben Goodger, who left for Osborne Clarke, corporate partner Stuart Blythe, who moved to CMS Cameron McKenna, corporate partner Niall McAlister, who joined Olswang, private equity head David Ramm, who defected to Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and venture capital co-chair Shawn Atkinson, who left for Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe.

Bolter declined to comment. Edwards Wildman could not be reached for comment.