Bond Dickinson is to open an office in Edinburgh, its second in Scotland, in spring 2017.

The firm has agreed to take an office on Princes Street and is currently recruiting a team, with plans for two or three partners and up to 20 staff.

The firm currently has an office in Aberdeen focused on oil and gas, while its Edinburgh base will focus on energy, financial institutions and real estate.

Bond Dickinson's managing partner, Jonathan Blair, said: "We wanted a second office in Scotland to support our clients and Edinburgh was a natural choice, being at the heart of Scotland's central belt.

"Over the past year we have heard from more and more clients that they are keen that we have an Edinburgh presence, so that we are on hand when they need us."

Revenue at the national firm fell to £104m from £107m last year, a 3% decrease, while profit per equity partner also fell to £275,000, down 3% from last year's reported figure of £284,000.

In June 2016, the firm sealed a transatlantic alliance with North Carolina-headquartered Womble Carlyle, which, according to data from Legal Week's sister title The American Lawyer, had revenue of $296.5m (£209m) in 2015, making it the 111th largest firm in the US by revenue.

Other UK firms that have targeted Scotland in recent years include Pinsent Masons, which merged with McGrigors in 2012; CMS, which merged with Dundas & Wilson in 2014; and most recently Addleshaw Goddard, which is to merge with Scottish firm HBJ Gateley later this year.