Jones Day is set expand its European footprint with the launch of an Amsterdam office in early 2013.

The new base, which will initially concentrate on corporate and M&A, private equity, capital markets, litigation and antitrust, will be led by Luc Houben, who had previously held the role of partner-in-charge at the US firm's Brussels office.

Houben, who has been at Jones Day for more than 20 years, has also practised in New York and Tokyo and is currently involved in the firm's Japan practice.

The Amsterdam plans follow on from the opening of the firm's third German office in Duesseldorf in February.

Jones Day managing partner Steve Brogan commented: "The opening of our Amsterdam office, together with the recent addition of our Duesseldorf office, is a demonstration of Jones Day's confidence in and commitment to the future of the European Union, which remains the largest economy in the world."

Separately, the firm has strengthened its London corporate practice with the hire of partner Ferdinand Mason from leading Dutch firm Boekel de Neree.

Mason, who has been a partner at Boekel since 2000 and helped launch the firm's London office in 2010, is joined at Jones Day by Boekel senior associate Bastiaan Kout. Both have started at the firm today, with Mason's hire taking the number of corporate partners in the office to 23.

Jones Day partner-in-charge for Europe and the Middle East Mary Ellen Powers noted: "Mason will play an essential role in the development of our new Amsterdam office and in the service of Dutch clients worldwide."