The last few months have been tumultuous for King & Wood Mallesons' troubled Europe, UK and Middle East (EUME) unit, but the firm has confirmed that 17 of its partners will stay on. In addition, KWM has established new business to keep a strategic presence in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

The firm’s core practices are now in London, Frankfurt, Dubai and Riyadh. It also has affiliated offices in Madrid, Milan and Brussels. It will focus on corporate M&A, finance, competition and dispute resolution. 

The London office will have a seven-partner team, while Frankfurt will have a three-partner operation. The Riyadh and Dubai offices will have two and five partners, respectively. One partner will remain in New York.

In total, KWM will have more than 30 partners, working with associates and support staff.

“I am proud and excited by the determination of our partners who have worked so hard with us to realise this practice in deeply challenging circumstances. This is a very good outcome for international clients and for the continued development of our firm,” said Wang Junfeng, KWM global chairman, in a statement.

On January 17, KWM’s European arm filed for administration with restructuring and insolvency specialist Quantuma, thereby transferring all its assets and control to administrator Andrew Hosking.