US firm Seyfarth Shaw is set to launch an office in London with the hire of Norton Rose global employment head Peter Talibart.

The new City base, which is expected to open in 2011, will focus on international employment law.

Talibart will head up the office with a brief to develop the firm's employment practice in Europe and the Middle East.

Norton Rose has confirmed that Talibart will be replaced by Paul Griffin as the firm's London employment head.

The new office will add to Seyfarth's existing bases in Atlanta, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington DC.

Seyfarth chairman Stephen Poor said: "The London office is not a first step to us opening offices across Europe, nor is it an attempt to enter the UK with a full-service offering like other US firms.

"Rather, it is about establishing a hub office to enable us to better service our clients and also to facilitate our close relationships with UK and European law firms who assist us across the region in all practice areas."

Talibart is qualified in both Canada and the UK and will join the firm as an equity partner.

He said: "Seyfarth Shaw has the finest international employment law practice in the market and has been regarded as such ever since I started practising in this area."

The firm currently has a total of 750 lawyers firmwide.

A spokesperson from Norton Rose said: "We can confirm that London-based employment partner Peter Talibart will be leaving the practice. His departure date is yet to be finalised. Employment partner Paul Griffin will lead the London employment practice going forward."