Hogan Lovells' corporate practice is aiming to increase board-level contacts at companies in a bid to strengthen its ties with FTSE 100 clients.

The firm, which has been attempting to develop its City corporate practice for some time, is hoping that improving links at board level, rather than focusing purely on in-house legal teams, will help expand relationships from other practice areas into corporate as well as target new clients.

As part of the move, Hogan Lovells has partnered with the Financial Times to create a report on the M&A market, which it will present to chief executives at FTSE 100 companies during a series of meetings in the coming weeks.

The move comes after the firm set out ambitious plans this time last year to offer marquee laterals above-lockstep pay deals as part of a drive to expand its City M&A practice, which has long been regarded as punching below its weight.

Despite the plans, which were intended to bypass restrictions caused by legacy Lovells' lockstep before full financial integration with its US merger partner, the firm has yet to hire a high-profile City corporate partner.

One corporate partner at the firm estimated that the firm currently advises less than 10 FTSE 100 companies on corporate transactions. "That number is too low for a firm of our size. The number of FTSE 100 clients we advise in other practice areas is less embarrassing, but there is a lot of cross-selling to be done," he said.

Andrew Pearson, the firm's newly-appointed head of corporate finance, said: "It's about striking a balance – close ties with the legal teams are important, but relationships at board level are vital, particularly in M&A."

He added: "We have worked on several high-profile mandates since the merger and want to keep building on this momentum. We hope to gain 'trusted adviser' status with significantly more of the FTSE 100 than we currently advise."