RMJM has been hit by more senior departures with staff from its US and Hong Kong offices deciding to jump ship.

The most high profile is Hong Kong managing principal Travis Hemley who first joined the business back in 2000 becoming a director eight years later and then moving up to his current role last April.

His profile is still on RMJM’s website but BD understands he is leaving to head back to his native Australia.

“He’s a really good guy and well out of it,” said one source. “He was put in a very difficult situation with everything that’s been going on.”

Also gone is New York design principal Roger Klein who spent four years at the business and has now joined HOK elsewhere in the city as principal. And Andreas Buettner, an associate principal, has also left to join New York practice Diller Scofidio & Renfro which is behind the Aberdeen city garden project.

Some staff in the New York office say they are owed up to five pay cheques – the equivalent of two-and-a-half month’s salary. One said: “Morale is terrible. Everyone has a plan B.”

RMJM declined to comment.