Strong private sector and new local projects see firms ramping up offerings in Manchester. Rose Orlik reports

Against an ever more gloomy economic outlook in the UK, for some leading law firms, Manchester is offering the opportunity to defy the downturn, with a host of firms planning to expand in the city.

Top 50 firms Shoosmiths, Gateley and Clyde & Co have all built up credible offices in the city since launching over the last three years. Meanwhile, longstanding players in the market such as DWF, Keoghs, Heatons and Pinsent Masons have ramped up their Manchester offerings in recent months. Pinsents, for example, has added around 30 lawyers to its Manchester presence as a result of its 1 May merger with Scots firm McGrigors.