As 2004 draws to a close, there is every sign that the stream of practice reviews and partner exits being inflicted on the German arms of major London firms will loom as large as they did at the year’s beginning. And the cuts are not coming just from London’s magic circle, with ‘chasing pack’ firms like Ashurst and Lovells recently taking a tougher stance on under-performing local practices.

In Lovells’ case, the firm completed a review of its offices in Frankfurt and Berlin. Such was the concern, some partners were talking of the future of Berlin, although the review ultimately recommended a more limited overhaul of its local property and construction practices.