Osborne Clarke (OC) has been hit with a four-partner defection from its Stockholm office, less than 18 months after the base opened.

The base's partner headcount has halved as a result of the walkout, leaving eight lawyers including the remaining four partners in the office, according to the firm's website.

DLA Piper has picked up two of the partners, hiring employment partner Bjorn Rustare and corporate partner Mikael Moreira to its office in the Swedish capital.

Rustare exits OC after just five months, having previously been a counsel at local firm Roschier. Moreira also joined the firm last autumn.

Banking partner Bjorn Bjuggren and real estate partner Nimrod Badur have left to joining domestic firm Morris Law. Bjuggren joined Osborne Clarke last January, two months after Badur started working at the firm.

International CEO Simon Beswick said: "Our future focus, collaborative culture, sector and client-first approach are key to our ongoing success. Its also helped us open a significant number of offices in the last five years.

"But challenges are part of most journeys and unfortunately, four partners have recently left our team in Sweden due to differences in the team. We wish them success in their next roles and our Swedish partners remain focused on servicing the needs of our clients in the region and supporting our people."

OC launched in Sweden in 2017 with current managing partner Fredrik von Baumgarten, who joined from Stockholm boutique Baumgarten Bystroem Rooth & Partners, and former Bird & Bird media partner Henrik Bergstrom.

The Swedish office was the firm's 25th global outpost. At the time of the launch, the firm said its sights were set on a Stockholm office due to increasing M&A activity in the Nordic country.

OC surpassed the £1m mark for the top-earning partner's pay during 2017-18 in what was a strong financial year for the firm, which saw UK revenues rise by 15% to £139.4m.