DLA Piper’s Scottish arm has seen the departure of two property partners – David Thomson and Graeme Sunter – adding to a spate of losses over the past year. The Glasgow office is left with six permanent partners, and just one – Anne McGregor – in real estate.

Thomson, who left last month (21 November), specialises in private equity and property. It is unclear where he is going. Sunter, who headed the Glasgow real estate team until 2005, left in September, joining Scottish outfit Lindsays in October to help develop its property practice in the region.

Despite claims that the DLA Piper office may close, Scottish managing partner Bruce Westbrook said: “We are a full service business in Edinburgh and Glasgow. If people want to leave us that is fine, but we are also recruiting good lawyers. DLA Piper will be in both cities for a long time.”