Regional law firm Shoosmiths this week signed up as the English law firm member of the World Services Group (WSG), a global network of professional services firms.

The firm said it has 'spent some time looking for a suitable global partnership' to complement its best friends policy with foreign law firms.

WSG, which began operating last year, currently has more than 100 members across the world.

It has an initial focus on signing up law firms, and other well known practices, including Spain's Garrigues, Bell Gully of New Zealand, Scottish firm Shepperd & Wedderburn and Dublin-based A&L Goodbody.

Insurance company AIG Europe (UK) has also signed up in England.

Shoosmiths partner Gary Assim said: 'Becoming members of the WSG formalises our best friends policy, as many of our existing contacts are already members of the WSG.

'As transactions become more complex and international in nature, there has been a notable increase in demand from our clients for multi-jurisdictional legal advice.

With the technology available through the WSG, we can now set up global teams at the press of a button.'