US firm Reed Smith is to relocate its nine-partner, 25 fee-earner Coventry office to Birmingham. Tim Foster, Reed Smith's UK managing partner, said: 'Our Birmingham presence will continue to be a key component of Reed Smith's overall operations in the UK, and the new premises will help us to attract high quality talent to continue developing the international offering and mindset that our clients expect.' Reed Smith has agreed to merge with City firm Richards Butler from 1 January 2007, a deal that will create a top- 20 global firm with revenues in the region of $750 million (£400 million).