Goodwin Procter moves in with regular referral partner SJ Berwin

Goodwin Procter's London office is moving in with SJ Berwin, in a move which both referral firms deny reflects any tightening of their relationship.

The US firm's small team of City lawyers is expected to make the transfer into SJ Berwin's building at 10 Queen Street Place at the end of next month, once the space has been fitted out.

Goodwin Procter launched in London a year ago with the hire of real estate finance partners Bob Asher and Brian Smith from defunct US rival Heller Ehrman. The Boston-based firm, which currently counts only two partners and one associate in its City base, has been renting ≠temporary space in London until now.

The step brings the two firms another step closer together after they launched a joint extranet site in May. The site, named The Bridge, is only accessible to staff at the two firms.

A US spokesperson for Goodwin Procter said: "After looking at a number of different options, we have decided to sublet a suite of offices in SJ Berwin's building - it is terrific space in a great location. The space, separate from SJ Berwin's, will be populated by Goodwin Procter lawyers and professional staff."

SJ Berwin last year narrowed the number of US referral arrangements it operates to three firms, also including New York's Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison and California-based Cooley Godward Kronish. The firm argues it works equally closely with all three.

SJ Berwin on the Legal Week Wiki