Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) is to become the latest US firm to offer a training programme in London.

The firm is expected to send in an application to take on trainees to the Law Society within the next week and hopes to have two trainees joining the firm this September. The trainees will carry out seats in litigation, corporate and technology, with the fourth seat still to be decided.

Margaret Mannell, MoFo London director of administration, told Legal Week: "We wanted to wait until we had the capacity to manage a proper training programme in London. We have had a large number of speculative applications from some very interesting candidates and we are starting to interview now."

The firm is also interviewing for its first UK summer programme, which is to start this year with two interns.

The move comes as Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, which has had trainees in London since it took on the City office of Coudert Brothers last year, plans to implement a formal summer programme.

The firms are the latest in a stream of US firms to start offering training contracts in London.

Latham & Watkins has its first trainees joining the firm next month, with its first full intake due to join in 2007, while Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom's first trainees started in September of last year. US firms still to launch a formal trainee programme in London include Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy.