Quinn Emanuel has further grown its European offering with the launch of a competition practice in Brussels, the firm's tenth office outside the US.

In a statement, the litigation-focused firm's managing partner John Quinn said a presence in the Belgian capital was a necessity to "effectively represent our clients in global disputes".

The office will be headed by Hamburg-based European competition practice chief Nadine Herrmann, who will split her time between Germany and Brussels.

She will be assisted by competition of counsel Catherine Manley and associate Jan Jacob, all of whom will focus on EU and member state competition litigation and investigations.

"Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union," said Hermann. "We believe a Brussels office is essential to effectively represent clients before the European Commission and before the Union Courts. Opening the office in Brussels demonstrates our commitment to our European Competition Practice."

The latest move underscores a period of rapid international growth for the firm, which until 2007 did not have a base outside the US.

Last year, the firm opened in Sydney, Munich and Hong Kong, and now counts seven bases in Europe, including London, Mannheim, Moscow and Paris.

"In today's world, antitrust issues are global," said managing partner John Quinn. "Any major antitrust dispute or investigation includes an EU component. In fact, more and many originate in the EU.

"Brussels is the epicenter of EU competition matters. We believe we had to have an office in Brussels to effectively represent our clients in these global disputes. Nadine is a veteran of these disputes, particularly when there is also an IP component."