and plans German office

McDermott Will & Emery is to open an office in Germany.

William Charnley, partner in charge at the firm's London office, says the matter is "under active consideration", and the office should be open by the end of the year.

McDermotts already does a large amount of German work out of its New York office - where it has two German-qualified partners.

Charnley says the firm is "flexible" about whether the office is to be based in Frankfurt, or elsewhere in the country. "We have got to find the right opportunity."

McDermotts will either set up the German office in the same way as it established itself in London - by hiring high-profile partners - or through a merger with a German firm.