Eversheds is set to merge with German firm Heisse Kursawe, which it has had an alliance agreement with for 10 years.

Heisse Kursawe specialises in corporate, M&A, real estate and human resources law and will be fully financially integrated into Eversheds.

The German firm is understood to have been in discussions with Eversheds for a year before announcing the merger today.

Following the merger, Eversheds will trade in Germany as Eversheds Deutschland LLP, operating from Heisse Kursawe legacy offices in Munich, Berlin and Hamburg.

Eversheds chief executive Bryan Hughes said: "Germany is a hugely important market strategically and a crucial part of any international legal services offering.

"We are delighted to welcome Heisse Kursawe into Eversheds LLP and to work with them to deliver our shared vision to create a fully integrated global law firm."

The merger deal is the first to be executed under international managing partner Ian Gray, who was moved into the newly created role from his head of litigation position in March.

Gray said at the time that his priority would be to "focus on growing further [the firm's] key hubs in France, Germany, Dubai and Hong Kong".

Eversheds managing partner Lee Ranson and company commercial team head Keith Froud led the negotiations, with Gray overseeing.

In December 2014 Eversheds launched new alliance networks for Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, with 19 and 20 member firms respectively.