Leading Chicago firm Kirkland & Ellis is to open an office in San Francisco in the New Year.

The five-partner practice will be jointly led by corporate partner Jeffrey Hammes and IP partner Stephen Johnson, who are relocating from the firm's Chicago and New York offices respectively.

The move is the result of several months of planning. Legal Director's sister title Legal Week Global revealed in June that the firm's partners had backed a proposal to open up in the city.

The initial focus of the office will be IP litigation and private equity, particularly leveraged buy-outs.

But Johnson said it would eventually resemble the profile of the firm's other US offices, although its growth would not be dramatic.

"We plan to grow in ones and twos. It is highly unlikely that we will bring in a whole practice group," he said.

The firm already has an office in Los Angeles, which Johnson described as a totally different market.

"With major clients in the Bay Area and a history of litigating cases in the Northern District of California, there is a strong business case for opening a San Francisco office," he added.

The five partners will be joined by 12 associates, who will be made up of a mixture of local recruits and transferees from other US offices.

Click on e-mail news at www.legaldirector.net to be alerted to breaking news