Consortium offers US firms London serviceUS law firms can now call on a UK legal, property and financial advice consortium to guide them into the London market following its official launch last week.The consortium - 'Law Firms New to London' - comprises City law firm Fox Williams, property consultant Strutt & Parker, the Royal Bank of Scotland and accountants Smith & Williamson.Strutt & Parker is already looking for around 60,000 sq ft of office space for five US law firms currently without a London presence.The new service has been formally launched to coincide with this year's American Bar Association conference, which will bring thousands of US lawyers to the UK in July.

Promotion of the service has already started in the US.The consortium aims to provide advice on acquiring and fitting out offices, real estate advice, tax and accounting, financial and banking services, employee contracts, work permits and immigration and partnership and practice regulation.There will be no fixed-fee structure and normal costs will be charged by consortium members for any work they are retained to do.

Ronnie Fox, senior partner of Fox Williams and chairman of the Association of Partnership Practitioners, said the consortium was targeting bigger firms that are looking to move into the UK market.

Hugh Biddell, head of professional practices at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said that of 12 US firms the group had visited this month, 11 either wanted to expand their London presence or take action to move into London within the next 18 months.Sue Allen