This is Leicestershire --A city law firm has opened a new office opposite the Ritz Hotel in London.
Douglas Wemyss, which is based in Friar Lane, Leicester, has already won new business through the office at No 1 Berkeley Street, Mayfair.
The office is being headed up by the firm's chief executive Sameer Karim, who is bringing in two new lawyers to work alongside him.
Mr Karim said he was also recruiting a new lawyer to help run the Leicester office.
He said: "This has given me that prestige address in the capital and has made an immediate impact.
"The amount of work we are picking up is incredible.
"I already have clients in London, but thanks to this they have been able to introduce me to their clients.
"We are already doing quite a bit of work in the property and commercial sectors in London so a presence there feels like a natural progression for us.
"We are always looking for ways to expand our services and this London office is part of a long-term strategic plan.
"Our plan is to really grow our offering in London and the south, which is why I will now be working half the week in London and this will also mean taking on more staff. The feedback we have received from the professional circle here has been extremely positive."
Mr Karim said the team in Friar Lane had grown by nine to 34 over the past 12 months and now included five partners, including a new partner to head up the firm's property team.
He said two trainees had recently qualified as solicitors as the business continued to cement its relationships with clients in and around the city.
Referrals were also playing a bigger part in the business, and the addition of after-hours and weekend services had also helped bring in clients.
The business recently bought a former bank building, next door to its Friar Lane offices, which it hopes to expand into once renovations are completed in the spring.
Douglas Wemyss is a full service firm, advising individuals, corporate business and state and regulatory bodies on legal issues.
It won the small business award at the 2013 Leicester Mercury Business Awards and Mr Karim was recently named as one of the Most Influential People in Leicestershire by the Mercury. The firm was Leicestershire law firm of the year in 2011 and won the excellence in client service award at the Law Society of England & Wales Excellence Awards 2011. Reported by This is 4 hours ago.