Shoosmiths is embarking on a regional expansion drive, opening a new office in Sheffield and expanding its operations in Milton Keynes, alongside a Northern Ireland push.

The firm is opening a permanent residence in Sheffield, taking 1,520 sq ft of space in the city where it previously had only flexible working desk space. The firm is moving between 10 and 14 existing lawyers and support staff to run the office.

Thomas Hall, a real estate partner and Sheffield head at the firm, said it planned to make key hires both into the office and in the region more broadly.

The firm, which opened a Leeds office in 2016, now has 12 offices around the U.K.

Just south of its Northampton headquarters, the firm is also moving from its current Milton Keynes premises to a new build at 100 Avebury Boulevard in early 2020 – a larger 20,000 sq ft commercial property in the town centre to accommodate the firm's growth in the region.

Commenting on the decision, Shoosmiths projects partner and Milton Keynes office head Robin Webb said: "We've seized the opportunity to choose a space that offers the scope we need for futureproofing."

Capitalising on strong 2017-18 financials, the national firm is also setting its sights on a Northern Ireland push, a person close to the matter said, in a bid to add heft to its 2016 merger with two-partner boutique McManus Kearney.

The firm has taken on a number of high-profile mandates in recent months, including leading on the Monarch airlines administration and managing part of the leasehold at the new £1.6bn Battersea Power Station development.