DLA Piper has pulled the plug on its Rotterdam arm, it was announced today (22 March), with the office now set to go its own way as a standalone practice.

The move will take effect from 1 June and leaves DLA Piper with just one office – its 100-lawyer Amsterdam arm – in the Netherlands.

The Rotterdam office, which has three partners and nine other lawyers, focuses on international trade, transport and insurance law. The firm indicated that some of its Rotterdam-based lawyers may transfer to Amsterdam.

Recent years have seen a number of major firms – including leading Dutch independent firm NautaDutilh – scale back their operations in Rotterdam, while De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is to close its local arm in 2008.

Meanwhile, Simmons & Simmons – which had previously centred its Dutch practice in Rotterdam – made its long-awaited Amsterdam debut at the beginning of 2007.

DLA Piper Dutch managing partner Frans Stibbe said the niche focus of the firm's Rotterdam office did not fit with the full-service capabilities of the Amsterdam practice and that a split would be beneficial for both parties.