Squire Sanders Hammonds is set to launch in Australia with the acquisition of the majority of Minter Ellison's Perth office.

The transatlantic firm is currently finalising discussions with a group of partners from Minter Ellison's Perth base, with 15 of the office's 19 partners understood to be in talks over a move after four decided to stay with the Australian firm.

The combination is subject to a Squire Sanders partner vote which is expected to take place later this month, with the remaining Minter Ellison staff set to open a new office in Perth in October.

The office's current managing partner, John Poulsen, who will become managing partner of Squire Sanders Australia, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our lawyers and staff to be part of a global platform that enhances our strong domestic and international practice.

"This is the first recognition by a global law firm that Perth is a key hub serving the Asia-Pacific region, one of the world's most dynamic economies."

Squire Sanders, which merged with UK firm Hammonds on 1 January this year, has had a presence in Asia since 1955, when it opened in Tokyo. The firm also has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The firm's chair and global chief executive James Maiwurm commented: "The potential combination of Squire Sanders and partners from Minter Ellison Perth would add to our capabilities and developing practice in Asia, with Perth providing a key hub for services to the region's growing economies."

Minter Ellison, one of Australia's 'big four firms', posted 2010-11 turnover of A$525.4m (£339m), while Squire Sanders reported 2010 revenues of $518m (£318m) alongside partner profits of $765,000 (£470m).

Minter Ellison chief executive John Weber told Legal Week: "The Perth office has not been financially integrated with the firm to date and it has been our goal over the past year to have our own integrated office in the market.

"We have had long discussions with the Perth office about achieving this and in the end the four partners that are setting up the integrated office for us shared the same commercial strategy, while the rest of the office felt it was best for them to move on to new ground.

"We expect to have between eight and 10 partners in the Perth office by the time we open in October, and grow to around a dozen partners in the following months."

The news comes after Clifford Chance launched Australia in May this year through a tie-up with local outfits Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe and Chang Pistilli & Simmons, gifting it offices in both offices in Perth and Sydney.

Holman Fenwick Willan also launched in Perth on 1 May, marking the firm's third base in Australia, while Ashurst is currently eyeing up the local market via a potential tie-up with Blake Dawson.