DLA Piper is set to merge with 21-lawyer Swedish firm Groenberg.

Groenberg, which was set up in 1929, focuses on corporate, litigation, insolvency and compliance work. It has 28 employees, including 21 lawyers, who will relocate to DLA's Stockholm offices, with the merger due to take effect on 1 October.

This follows DLA's move to set up a Nordic verein in February, with offices in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

As part of this process, DLA's Swedish arm – formerly known as DLA Nordic – became integrated into the firm as DLA Piper Sweden. It also merged with Finnish firm Peltonen LMR, which joined the verein as DLA Piper Finland, in addition to its existing office in Oslo – DLA Norway.

DLA international CEO Simon Levine said: "We have already demonstrated a commitment to the Nordic region and the opportunity to join with an established firm such as Groenberg further supports this."

DLA Sweden managing partner Gustaf Reuterskioeld said: "By merging with Groenberg we will strengthen our full service offering, particularly in litigation, corporate, insolvency and compliance."

On the whole, 2015 was an expansive year for DLA Piper, during which it opened in Canada (following a merger with local firm Davis), Morocco and Johannesburg. It also struck an association agreement with Colombian firm Martinez Neira.