Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, the US law firm, is to open an office in Munich at the start of next year to expand the firm's intellectual property and patent law practice in Germany, as well as building up the mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital capabilities.

Jones Day already has an office in Frankfurt, which opened in 1991. The firm is taking the step that many rivals have also done or are considering. Germany is perceived as being a very lucrative market, and just having an office in the financial district of Frankfurt is not enough, as there are a lot of corporates in other parts of the country such as Munich and Düsseldorf. In addition, the firm is keen to be close to the German and European Patent Offices.