Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM) is set to take on trainee lawyers in the City, with the US firm aiming to boost its profile among UK undergraduates.

The firm, which launched in London in June 2009, will take on its first trainee intake in autumn 2011 and is intending to run annual intakes from then on. In the short term, GTM hopes to attract two trainees each year and will be targeting both law and non-law graduates.

Corporate and securities partner Laura O'Neill (pictured), who joined the US firm in 2010 after four years as a partner at SJ Berwin, will oversee the London graduate recruitment scheme. At SJ Berwin she co-headed the graduate recruitment team alongside real estate partner Bryan Pickup.

The firm has not yet finalised its rates for trainees.

The introduction of the graduate scheme is part of an effort by the Miami law firm to replicate its US strategy of growing organically and hiring directly from law schools.

Co-managing partner Cate Sharp commented: "Having become full service last year, we are now able to offer the kind of platform and training that graduates need. We aim to further consolidate our presence here in London by recruiting trainees who seek a long-term career with the firm."

GTM will not tie its future trainees into attending any particular law school. The news comes after both Sullivan & Cromwell and Ropes & Gray recently announced plans to launch graduate recruitment programmes in their respective London offices.