SJ Berwin has called in management consultants Hildebrandt on a major review of strategy that will set out the firm's growth agenda and gauge the long-mooted case for pursuing a US merger.

The firm's 10-member strategy committee is overseeing the initiative, which started at the beginning of the summer and is expected to draw up findings in early November.

Each of the firm's major departments has been asked to put forward a paper, together with Hildebrandt, outlining plans to expand the individual practices.

The firm's corporate department generates 54% of its overall revenue, with property contributing 18% and finance 7%.

SJ Berwin managing partner Ralph Cohen told Legal Week: "The firm has been enjoying strong growth and it is important to ensure everything is going in the same direction.

"We have certain departments that want to gear up in size but we do not want to duplicate, so if one department grows, then other departments that work with it will have to match that growth."

The review will also specifically address SJ Berwin's US strategy, reflecting the long-held view that the firm is culturally and financially a prime candidate for a tie-up with a US practice.

The firm currently has loose referral arrangements with a variety of firms such as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and O'Melveny & Myers.

The firm will also examine the options for further expansion in continental Europe, where it currently has six offices.

One former partner said: "It is not suprising the firm has brought in consultants to look at a US and possibly a European merger, but there are also some pressing internal issues that it needs to address, such as what to do with its banking practice."

The review follows two years of robust growth by the firm, which has increased its turnover by 43% since 2001 and now has global revenues of £122m.

The firm's partner profits have also sharply rebounded after the slump in its core technology/media market to a current average of £575,000.

The process is not expected to look at the firm's management, which is due for a change shortly, with head of corporate Jonathan Blake, head of competition Stephen Kon and managing partner Ralph Cohen gearing up for a senior partner election battle.

A vote, which will replace the firm's influential veteran head David Harrel, is expected in the coming months.