Eversheds Sutherland is set to boost its Munich office with a 10-lawyer employment team, as the firm looks to expand its presence in continental Europe ahead of the UK's exit from the European Union next year.

Labour and employment partner Marco Ferme and nine associates from German firm Beiten Burkhardt are expected to join the firm, although their start dates are yet to be confirmed.

Ferme, who made partner at Beiten in 2010, advises clients in several industrial sectors, including companies in the metal and electrical, chemical, healthcare and food industries.

The European hires come after Eversheds moved into Russia and Luxembourg last year with a series of team hires from Simmons & Simmons and Nordic firm Hannes Snellman, as well as opening its fourth German office in Duesseldorf.

Speaking to Legal Week, co-CEO Lee Ranson said the firm is targeting an overall growth drive within its offices on the continent.

He said: "We are looking at growing our continental European offices, particularly in the financial services sector, in response to Brexit. We hope to expand our German, Dutch and Paris offices."

The firm also fully merged with its Dutch affiliate firm at the start of 2018, following a 10-year association.

Ranson added that there are no imminent plans for the firm to open any new offices in Europe, but instead wants to "build critical mass" within its existing bases.

Co-CEO Mark Wasserman added that in the US, the firm is aiming to grow its New York and Texas offices, and is still eyeing office openings in Chicago and Sillicon Valley. He identified finance, tax, white-collar crime, corporate and M&A practice areas as particular segments the firm wants to expand in.

This February, the firm announced revenues of $1.03bn in its first financial results since the transatlantic tie-up of Eversheds and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan one year ago. The revenue figure, which relates to the financial year ending 31 December 2017, was aggregated from the financial results of the firm's various arms, which are not fully financially integrated.

The firm's latest strategic plan, which it set out this January, includes a goal of achieving a "common culture across all international operations".

Ranson said: "We're still very much focused on integration, which has gone really well so far. Individuals from both legacy firms really do get on, and we were clear from the beginning that it was up to partners, practice group and sector heads to create those relationships. They have to create their own links and get to know each other."

The firm declined to comment on Ferme and the team's hire.