"I started this law firm in 1986 with four lawyers. I've seen it grow from four lawyers to 725," says John Quinn, managing partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.

Quinn Emanuel's name has become synonymous with rapid growth, and after yet more double-digit increases in both revenue and partner profits during 2016, news emerged last week that it had held talks about a potential merger with Washington DC litigation firm Williams & Connolly.

Although the Washington DC firm subsequently poured cold water on the prospects of a deal, Quinn is unlikely to be thrown off its stride.

Its consistent global growth has been matched in London, where the firm has aggressively expanded in recent years, with partner count growing from 11 to 19 and lawyer numbers doubling to reach 60 during the past three years.

Key lateral hires have included Clifford Chance tax disputes head Liesl Fichardt, Addleshaw Goddard civil fraud head Mark Hastings and Covington & Burling white-collar crime partner Robert Amaee, and the firm is now considering adding a patent litigation practice in the City.

Quinn said: "We are always looking at new practice areas. We've had our eye out for a patent litigator in London; that's such an important practice area, but whether we'll find the right person is another question."

This pace of growth in London – where the firm launched in 2008 – has shown no sign of diluting the firm's profits. In 2016, City revenues grew 22% from £36.8m to £44.8m, while profits increased 21% from £27.1m to £32.8m.

Quinn comments: "If you're recruiting the right people, they should be accretive to profitability, and if you support them there is no reason why these additions should be dilutive."

The firm is also weighing up whether to add traditional litigation capability to its Paris branch, which currently focuses on arbitration.

"We have considered the possibility in Paris of also having traditional litigation capability in addition to an arbitration practice. We are always considering candidates in that area."

High-profile lateral recruits in Paris include, in October last year, Allen & Overy arbitration co-head Michael Young and Herbert Smith Freehills disputes head Isabelle Michou.

The firm has also made several hires in Brussels. Shearman & Sterling antitrust partners Stephen Mavroghenis and Miguel Rato, courted last year by the firm, joined earlier this year. The pair were reunited with former colleague Trevor Soames, who Quinn hired in December.

Other London disputes specialists have recently mulled the possibility of a merger, with Stewarts Law and Enyo Law holding ultimately unsuccessful talks over an £80m tie-up.

Quinn is unfazed by the rise of new litigation boutiques. He says: "They are Quinn Emanuel copycats. We came to London eight years ago when there were no firms like that looking to do only litigation. We've changed the market in London with our focus on a litigation-only practice."

Quinn remains "bullish" on London's status as a disputes hub, despite the uncertainties around Brexit.

"I think Brexit is a major project, which will take a lot of time and upend a lot of people's plans and what they thought the future looked like. However, we continue to think that London is an extremely important market due to the importance of English law for dispute resolution – I don't see that diminishing."