O'Melveny & Myers London partner John Daghlian has left the firm to join Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, becoming the latest in a slew of departures from the firm's City base.

Private equity specialist Daghlian joined O'Melveny in 2004 from legacy firm SJ Berwin. Earlier this year, he led the O'Melveny team advising on a $1 billion private equity funds deal for private equity firm Coller Capital.

He is joining Akin Gump in London, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. His move will reunite him with former colleagues Daniel Quinn and Aleksander Bakic, who joined Akin Gump in April.

According to a Companies House filing, Daghlian's partnership at O'Melveny was terminated today (14 June).

He is joined in the move by funds counsel Mary Lavelle, who joins Akin Gump as a partner.

Fellow funds partner Eve Ellis also left O'Melveny to join U.S. firm Ropes & Gray's City office in April.

Daghlian's departure leaves O'Melveny with one funds partner in London, office head Jan Birtwell, and veteran funds specialist Jonathan Blake.

Akin Gump was unable to provide comment at the time of publication. O'Melveny did not respond to requests for comment.

The flurry of departures come amid O'Melveny's merger discussions with Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy.

The firms have been in merger talks for more than a year, with the latest issues to be discussed prior to a merger including remuneration, pension liabilities, firm governance and working capital requirements.

Legal Week also revealed last week that if talks do progress to a vote, A&O partners will vote via an open ballot.

If the merger goes through, it would create a firm with combined revenues of more than £2 billion and in excess of 3,000 lawyers.