US firm Altheimer & Gray has secured its long-awaited French debut by taking over the five-partner Paris firm Cournot Association d'Avocats.

The deal, effective from 1 September, marks the opening of the Chicago-based firm's second western European office after London.

Cournot specialises in M&A, litigation, general corporate and labour law and was formed after the break-up of Cournot Lemetais & Associes, which split up last year following disagreements over its international strategy.

All five of Cournot's partners are joining Altheimers' partnership – and the office will be headed by name partner Stephane Cournot.
Altheimers is already relocating Prague corporate partner Jean Grayson to Paris to bolster the office's corporate team.

Louis Goldman, Altheimers' co-chairman and chairman of its international practice group, said: "This is a springboard for Europe. We want to go into Germany, but feel we have to complete a strong opening in Western Europe before moving into other countries."

As well as its London office, which was opened in 1999, the US firm has eastern European offices in six cities.