August has seen UK and US firms opening offices abroad, with Norton Rose leading the way in Dubai.

The office, Norton Rose's 20th globally and second in the Middle East after Bahrain, will open next month with five staff, headed by corporate finance partner Graeme Muir.

The practice will concentrate on corporate finance and banking, including Islamic financing.

Chief executive Peter Martyr said: 'We see the Gulf as a developing area for Norton Rose and expect our offices there to grow.'

Meanwhile, City firm Bird & Bird will open its second office in Germany in October when it sets up in Munich.

It entered Germany in June 2002 with an office in Dsseldorf.

It has recruited four high-level German lawyers for the office, and six more should join by the launch.

The office will initially focus on intellectual property, corporate, IT, telecoms, sport and sponsorship, with longer-term plans to expand into the media sector and offer antitrust and employment advice.

Meanwhile, two US firms have opened in Brussels - Arnold & Porter and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood - while City firm Lawrence Graham confirmed that it has taken over Eversheds' Monaco practice.