Linklaters' Dutch ally De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, has drawn up plans to close its Hague and Rotterdam offices in favour of a single Amsterdam site.
The move would be a radical step for Hague-based De Brauw and would force its respected Supreme Court practice to leave the firm.
It is understood that the Supreme Court team, which needs to be based in the administrative centre of the Hague, has already approached two local firms about a future move.
The two firms are understood to be Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn and Barents & Krans, which is one of the Dutch Government's main legal advisers.
The move to a single site would also facilitate a merger with its City ally Linklaters, which has always wanted the top Dutch firm to operate from a single site.
The plan is a boost to Linklaters' management after De Brauw's rejection of further merger talks in May. While Linklaters is still hoping to convince De Brauw to commit to a full merger, the Dutch firm currently claims to be opposed to full integration after breaking off merger talks with its City ally in May (Legal Week, 3 May).
Hague-based partner Jaap de Keijzer told Legal Week: "We want to be concentrated in one location because it makes sense and offers a better service to clients."
The firm has not officially sa8nctioned the move but partners in Rotterdam and the Hague are understood to be preparing for a move by 2004. De Keijzer said that by putting all the lawyers in a single site the firm would strengthen its hand for working on major international deals, thanks to Amsterdam's position as the commercial capital of the Netherlands.
The firm is currently looking for a site that could accommodate a projected workforce of 90 partners and 900 lawyers and staff in total.
Property costs would also rise if the move goes ahead, as office rents in Amsterdam are roughly twice the level of Rotterdam and the Hague.
De Keijzer added that a site outside the centre of Amsterdam was possible, including one project close to Schiphol international airport.