Norton Rose Fulbright is to open an office in Luxembourg with a team of three partners recruited from local law firms.

The firm has hired a three-lawyer team to launch the office – which will be fully operational by June - including the former founding partner of local independent firm BS Avocats, Stephane Braun.

Finance partner Braun's practice includes all aspects of banking, debt and equity capital markets transactions, securitisations, asset financing and secured syndicated lending.

He is joined by investment fund and asset management partner Manfred Dietrich from local firm Van Campen Liem and tax partner Raquel Guevara, who joins from local firm MNKS.

Norton Rose EMEA head Martin Scott said: "The establishment of our Luxembourg office will enhance our cross-border tax planning, private funds, corporate and real estate capability, particularly in Germany, as well as our EU investigations and risk advisory capabilities. In addition to growing links with China, Luxembourg has well established connections to Canada, the US, Moscow, as well as the major European countries."

In February, Norton Rose and US firm Chadbourne & Parke agreed to merge in a deal that will create a firm with combined revenues of just under $2bn (£1.6bn) when it goes live later this year.

In 2015, fellow international giant Dentons opened in Luxembourg via a tie-up with local firm OPF Partners. Last year, Bird & Bird opened a Luxembourg office to support its work in the Unified Patent Court. Other international firms with offices in the country include Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Baker McKenzie.