Ashurst's Glasgow-based support centre has begun providing assistance to the firm's global network of offices.

In extending its remit beyond London, the office is now working with Ashurst's teams in Paris, Sydney, Frankfurt and Singapore on a broad variety of matters.

Glasgow managing partner Mike Polson said: "It was always the plan to take on a broad spectrum of work but we are slightly ahead of where we thought we would be."

The base is also set to hire its first two qualified lawyers for the support team before the end of the year. They will join the 13 'non-qualified legal analysts' already working in Glasgow. Polson said the hires represent the next stage in the development of the office and are being introduced to improve the level of support offered.

Work being undertaken at the office includes corporate due diligence, litigation document review, real estate and finance and infrastructure research.

Polson added: "Glasgow is there to support all practice areas and that is the mandate that we had at the outset."

Further additions to the team of legal analysts are also expected to be in place by early next year.

The Glasgow office was launched last year, supported by a