Hong Kong law firm Howse Williams Bowers (HWB) is to move offices at the end of this year with a view to boosting its headcount in the region.

The firm, which currently has more than 80 staff, will move from its existing base in Exchange Square 2, to bigger, Grade-A office space on the 27th floor of Alexandra House in Central on 31 December.

The firm has secured the option of leasing a second floor in the building, as it plans to grow its headcount substantially in the coming years. In particular, it plans to bolster its corporate and litigation practices.

HWB was formed at the beginning of this year, when a trio of partners at Reed Smith Richards Butler decided to set up their own Hong Kong practice. Professional indemnity co-head Chris Howse, insurance litigation partner Kevin Bowers and corporate partner Chris Williams exited the firm in December to set up HWB.

The trio were joined at HWB in January by a team of 15 lawyers and 35 support staff from Reed Smith's Hong Kong arm, and have since made further recruits from their former firm. Most of the staff had initially worked in legacy Richards Butler's Hong Kong office prior to its merger with Reed Smith in 2008.

"You can't get more than 100 people on the floor of Alexandra House, so we have the ability to expand," said Howse.

"We are now one of the larger independent law firms, and our intention is to build that up to work with people who don't have a Hong Kong office but who don't want to send their Hong Kong work to a competitor. We will continue to build up our existing practice areas, particularly corporate and litigation."

HWB has recently bolstered its headcount and introduced new practice areas, with the hire of David Coogans, the head of UK firm Holman Fenwick & Willan's Sydney office, and partner Linda Heathfield from Hong Kong firm Ip & Heathfield.

Coogans, who previously worked for Reed Smith Richards Butler for a decade along with Howse, will move back to Hong Kong to join HWB in November, and is expected to enhance the firm's capabilities in shipping, litigation and wet work.

Heathfield is already working for the firm, having recently launched its family and matrimonial practice in Hong Kong.