Mayer Brown has hired three lawyers including a partner from Clifford Chance in Germany as the stream of exits from the magic circle firm, which began early this year, continue.

Corporate partner André Schwanna and senior associate Benjamin Büttner have joined the US firm as partners, while Alexander Täumer has been hired as counsel. The latter pair specialise in tax work.

The hires are part of a concerted drive by Mayer Brown to strengthen the corporate offering of its German team, which is better known for finance work.

Clifford Chance has seen more than 10 partners leave the German group since it began a review of its operation in the country late last year. The firm did make a notable hire recently, recruiting joint Freshfields corporate partner and joint head of its global energy group, Anselm Raddatz.

Mayer Brown is focussing on growing further internationally in 2016. After recruiting Tom Thraya and Charles Hallab from Baker & McKenzie in the UAE, the firm announced its intention to launch in the Middle East in 2016.