“It's going to be death by a thousand cuts if people keep leaving at this rate.”

One former Ropes & Gray partner does not mince his words when reflecting on the rate of departures that the Boston-based Am Law 100 firm has seen so far this year.

Over the last two months, seven partners have left the firm across four offices worldwide, with a total of 22 heading for the exit door since January; 23 if you count London co-founder Maurice Allen, who stepped down from the partnership last year but only left the firm at the end of February.