International firm Taylor Wessing is expanding into the Netherlands through a merger with Dutch firm Deterink.

The merger will give Taylor Wessing offices in Amsterdam and Eindhoven and will see seven partners and 47 lawyers joining the firm as of today, boosting its fee-earning headcount to more than 1,200.

According to Taylor Wessing, the merger is part of its strategy to ‘service the demands of the firm’s international client base’. It said that 34 of its 50 top clients have a presence in the Netherlands.

Tim Eyles (pictured), managing partner of Taylor Wessing UK, said: ‘This merger is building on our ability to offer our clients the combination of international expertise tailored to local legal environments, cultures and market conditions, an amalgam that we pride ourselves on across all our offices. These offices will not just be hubs for international clients, but also leaders for national work.'

The two firms have been working together closely since 2011, particularly in corporate, intellectual property and employment law, with growth areas planned in disputes and real estate.

Marc Van Gelder, managing partner at Deterink, said the merger will allow the firm to expand its international expertise, and to take its standing to the next level.

‘Deterink and Taylor Wessing have built a strong relationship over the past four years and have worked together successfully on numerous occasions,’ he said. ‘We’re extremely enthusiastic about taking a leap forward with our international cooperation by opening the door of Taylor Wessing’s Netherland offices.’