Forty partners have quit KWM Europe since the firm was plunged into crisis in October, by the resignation of four high profile partners and the subsequent failure of its recapitalisation plan.

The exits, divided across numerous firms as partners seek the best individual deals for themselves, come as it emerges that all 60 of the stricken firm's trainees look likely to find new homes, with Linklaters and Allen & Overy among those stepping in to recruit them.

The legacy SJ Berwin business – KWM Europe and Middle East (EUME) – announced yesterday that it had filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator with the High Court, with the firm expected to file for administration in mid-January.

With all single-firm acquisitions of the business off the table it is every person for themselves, prompting a scramble of partner exits.

When Michael Halford, private equity partner Jonathan Pittal, corporate partner Andrew Wingfield and former managing partner Rob Day triggered the crisis in October by handing in their notice, KWM EUME had 131 partners – 77 of whom were in London.

Forty of these have now either joined another firm, agreed to join another firm once the pre-pack is confirmed, or handed in their notice without anywhere to go.

The latest exits are tax partner Laura Charkin, who is set to follow funds head Michael Halford to Goodwin, and high profile tax partner Stephen Pevsner, who is set to join Proskauer Rose alongside one associate – following in the footsteps of former managing partner Rob Day and corporate finance partner Andrew Wingfield.

Others have been linked with firms but the moves have not yet been confirmed, such as head of tax Gareth Amdor, who is in discussions with firms including Reed Smith.

On top of the partner moves, 47 other lawyers and two paralegals are likely to join the hiring firms alongside partners.

The latest exits leave roughly 90 partners across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) still to find or confirm new firms, including heavyweights such as funds partner Jonathan Blake, fraud partner Ian Hargreaves, head of competition Simon Holmes, corporate finance partner Greg Stonefield and projects partner Ian Wood. All partners are subject to three months' notice until the firm files for pre-pack administration.

Some of these are in discussions with KWM China as it looks to retain an EMEA outpost. These include a London disputes team headed by partners Andrei Yakovlev, Dorothy Murray and Darren Roiser; a London corporate/commercial team; and teams in the firm's Dubai, Germany, Italy and Spain offices.

Up-to-date staff and lawyer numbers are not available, however according to its 2014-15 limited liability partnership accounts, KWM EUME had an average of 452 lawyers and 425 support staff. From January, all staff and lawyers remaining with the firm will be paid weekly.

Many of these associates are likely to find new roles as and when the remaining partners confirm where they will go. However, with partners splitting in so many directions, there are fewer guarantees for support staff.

KWM's trainees look set for a more positive outcome, with all expected to be offered positions with other firms. A&O and Linklaters are among those rallying to help them finish their training contracts.

Claire Wright, graduate recruitment partner at A&O, said: "We have had numerous approaches in recent days from KWM's current and future trainees. We welcome applications from all these trainees to the extent that they need to complete their training contracts with us, and have contacted KWM to outline the various routes on offer. Any recruitment will be subject to a selection process, but we would like to try and support KWM trainees where possible."

A Linklaters spokesperson confirmed that the firm had offered to take on a number of trainees from KWM, stating: "Trainees will be invited to apply, following which there will be an assessment round at the beginning of the year and we hope that successful candidates will join in the new year."

In a statement, a KWM spokesperson said: "The profession has responded fantastically well to this situation and we are currently in discussion with a large number of firms across the City with regard to our trainees in London."

KWM's problems came to a head when it was forced to halt a planned £14m recapitalisation that was supposed to shore up its financial position, amid delays paying out partner profits and debts of around £35m.

The firm's management presented the partnership with a second recapitalisation proposal, which included a bailout from the firm's Chinese arm. However, just 21 partners signed up to the deal, equating to just over 16% of the partnership.

That failure left business looking for a merger partner but, when these talks failed, individual partners have been looking for their own exit routes.

Firms hiring from KWM Europe since October

• DLA Piper – taking six partners, eight other lawyers and three trainees
• Greenberg Traurig – taking six partners and 25 associates
• Macfarlanes – taking four competition partners including former senior partner Stephen Kon, who is joining as a consultant.
• K&L Gates – one partner
• Winston & Strawn – one partner so far
• Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe – two partners
• Reed Smith – one partner so far
• Addleshaw Goddard – three partners
• Covington & Burling – two partners
• Keystone Law – one partner
• Proskauer – three partners
• Goodwin Procter – six partners