Mills & Reeve has entered into a formal strategic alliance with Paris headquartered firm Fidal, building on a growing referrals between the two outfits over the last two years.

The firms have been teaming up since June 2012 for clients requiring advise on cross-jurisdictional matters. Since then there have been more than 50 referrals between them  in the corporate and commercial, IT, intellectual property, employment, corporate tax and private client sectors.

Mark Jeffries, Mills & Reeve senior partner, said: "The similarities between our firms mean that we are able to work seamlessly and provide clients with advice that serves their interests both in the UK and France.

"In terms of our sector specialisms, the two firms mirror each other well."

Jeffries cited shared strength in the areas of technology, food and beverage, health, insurance, charity, real estate investment and private wealth.

The memorandum of understanding adds Mills & Reeve to Fidal's list of preferred firms, which already includes Siqueira Castro in Brazil, Miller Thomson in Canada, Deheng in China and KPMG Law in Germany. Fidal will also become a 'preferred supplier' for Mills & Reeve.

Mills & Reeve has been involved in a number of high profile French matters in the last 12 months, including advice to a French digital printing technology company, Global Graphics SA, to transfer it from a French company to a UK company.

The firm has seen revenue grow 12%, up from £70.9m to £79.5m, since merging with Manchester firm George Davies last year.