DLA Piper is conducting a review of its business which for the first time will see DLA Piper International and DLA Piper US share the same three-year strategy.

The review is being led by joint chief executive Nigel Knowles (pictured) and global board chairman Francis Burch, who are currently collaborating with each other and their respective executive boards to formulate the new plan.

A widespread consultation is due to start with the partnership in the coming weeks as the firm aims to fundamentally assess which clients its should be acting for, where the firm should be located geographically and what services it should offer.

In particular, the firm is aiming to increase its market share among major corporates and improve cross-selling between practices and geographical locations. As part of this, DLA Piper will also look into its processes and systems, including its IT and letters of engagement, to make sure it is providing a 'joined-up' service to clients.

It is understood that the firm may consider creating firmwide client criteria to ensure that it is acting for clients from which it has the prospect of getting the most work, including in local offices.

DLA Piper International's current three-year strategy comes to an end on 31 December 2010.

Commenting on the strategy, Knowles said: "We will be giving a lot of thought to issues over which clients we should act for, where we should be in the world and what services we should be delivering."

He added: "We are working on a new plan coming out of a global downturn so the timing could not be better. We can evaluate how we can take advantage of the opportunities out there to grow following a paradigm shift in the way clients act and what they expect from their legal advisers."