Simmons & Simmons has told its partners that a transatlantic tie-up remains an option for the firm, despite the breakdown of merger discussions with Mayer Brown earlier this year.

The UK top 15 law firm's management used its annual partner weekend earlier this month (9-10 October) to stress that while a US merger is not a key strategic target, management at the firm still considers it a possibility.

The weekend saw management tell partners that despite the public attention received by the merger talks, which broke down over the summer, the firm's strategy for driving growth remains unchanged – with a merger an option but not a priority.

Instead, key strategic priorities for Simmons include bedding down the firm's four-way core sector focus on financial markets, life sciences, infrastructure, and technology, media and telecoms; as well as building on existing strengths such as its European litigation practice. China also remains a priority for growth after the firm added an office in Beijing earlier this year.

Managing partner Mark Dawkins (pictured) commented: "The basic message is that a US merger is not a driver of our strategy but that we remain open-minded about the option."

Simmons and Mayer Brown ended merger talks in June this year after some three months of discussions between the management teams. In addition to the US links a tie-up with Mayer Brown would have brought, Simmons was attracted to the deal because of the boost it would have given its China and Germany offerings. However, a number of partners had questioned the compatibility of the two firms' London offices.