Kobre & Kim has become the first US firm in London to convert to Legal Disciplinary Partnership (LDP) status in England and Wales.

The New York-based trial specialist converted to LDP status after gaining approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority last Thursday (3 June) in a move that will allow its UK lawyers and barristers to begin practising English law as partners in the firm.

The five-partner London office includes former Serle Court barrister James Corbett QC, who joined the firm in April, handing Kobre its first English law capability. Corbett was joined by Simon Cullingworth from Fladgate Fielder in April and Enterprise Chambers barrister Tim Prudhoe, who have both become partners.

The trio will work alongside two London-based US-qualified partners. Kobre is now aiming to expand its presence in the City and is expected to recruit two more lawyers at partner level over the summer. Kobre focuses on litigation against banks, futures intermediaries, investment companies, and professional firms.

LDPs, which form a key plank of the liberalisation of the profession ushered in by the Legal Services Act, allow non-lawyers to form up to 25% of a law firm's partnership and for solicitors to go into partnership with barristers. The changes came into force in March 2009, but to date Halliwells and Irwin Mitchell are the only UK top 50 firms known to have registered for LDP status.

Corbett commented: "Our firm is one of only a handful of international litigation firms that offers a conflict-free platform for litigation and advocacy through an integrated team of English solicitors, barristers and US-qualified lawyers."