Clayton Utz' Chief Executive Partner David Fagan said while he was disappointed at the departures, the firm was in great shape and would continue to deliver the exceptional service clients had come to expect.

"Partner movements such as this occur in the life cycle of a firm. Clayton Utz is inexcellent shape and continues to be one of the strongest performing firms in the market," said Fagan.

Fagan said the Australian legal market remained one of the most competitive in the world and Clayton Utz was committed to continuing to build on the strong market position it had established over the last few years.