Ashurst has asked a number of partners to leave by the end of the current financial year, despite already seeing nearly 30 partner exits since May 2009.

The top 10 U.K. firm asked fewer than 10 partners to leave shortly before Christmas, with most set to depart by the end of April. Ashurst management confirmed to Legal Week that “fewer than 10 partners” had been asked to go, denying the figure was as high as 15.