Am Law 200 law firm Quarles & Brady announced on Wednesday the opening of its new office in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The new Twin Cities office, located in Fifth Street Tower, will be the Milwaukee-based firm's 11th nationwide.

“Minneapolis had been on the firm's radar for some time, and basically over the last couple of years just grew into that strategic fit,” said partner Daniel Young, who will be one of the four attorneys outfitting the new office.

Young, who has been working remotely in Minnesota and in the Phoenix office since joining the firm in 2016 as a part of its business law practice group, will be joined by real estate partner Isaac Roang, who will relocate from the firm's Milwaukee office. Associates Peter Kaiser and Michael Larson are also joining the new office.

The firm has serviced Minnesota-based clients from its current locations, but decided to expand into Minneapolis as part of a broader strategic growth plan, Young said.

“The firm has strategically identified certain areas in the country where we have existing clients, significant work, a significant presence and significant opportunities,” Young said.

The Twin Cities market is both a unique business market and a unique legal market, said Young, a Minnesota native.

Nearly 20 Fortune 500 companies call Minnesota home. Thanks to this solid corporate base, Minneapolis has been one of the most active markets for law firm mergers and expansion.

Among other entrants, Cozen O'Conner set up shop in there in 2013 with eight transactional and commercial litigation partners from Hinshaw & Culbertson. Fox Rothschild entered the Minneapolis market in 2015 through a merger with Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly. Jones Day opened an office in the city in 2016 with a trio from Barnes & Thornburg.

Earlier this year, Philadelphia-based Ballard Spahr finalized its union with Minneapolis-based Lindquist & Vennum, creating a 650-lawyer firm with 15 offices.

“There's a significant amount of business here, and therefore a lot of good firms either are here or are trying to come here into this market,” Young said.

Quarles & Brady plans to ramp up its operations in Minneapolis, Young said, adding that the 461-lawyer firm has 11 attorneys admitted to practice in Minnesota.

“We're actively pursuing associates, laterals and other strategic firm fits with either boutique or other larger firms that are looking to expand their presence with our group,” Young said.