A nearly 900-lawyer US firm just landed in London

US employment law firm Fisher Phillips has opened in London, its first office in Europe, with a team of employment specialists from Charles Russell Speechlys and other firms.

The Atlanta-headquartered firm launches with 11 specialist employment lawyers, including partners Dan Pollard, Richard Harvey and Ian Fraser. It said it expects to announce further senior hires in the coming months.

Pollard, who joins from Charles Russell Speechlys, will serve as regional managing partner. Harvey joins from Pierson Ferdinand, while Fraser is a former Simmons & Simmons partner specialising in employee incentives and share schemes.

The team will operate from The Scalpel on Lime Street in the City.

US firms target London

Fisher Phillips is one of the largest employment-focused law firms in the US, with nearly 900 lawyers globally. It generated revenue of $464 million last year, according to The American Lawyer.

London becomes its 52nd office globally and follows recent international expansion into Tokyo and Mexico City. The firm said the new office would act as its European hub, advising multinationals on employment issues across the region.

The launch also makes Fisher Phillips the latest US law firm to establish a presence in London, where American firms have invested heavily over the past decade.

Michelman & Robinson opened in the City last year and has since added lawyers from firms including Linklaters.

Fisher Phillips chair and managing partner John Polson said London was “one of the most important global hubs for business, finance, and international employment matters”.

Pollard said the firm had already begun building out its UK operation to support a broader European presence.