Trial lawyer Mark Lanier and two English barristers have launched a new firm in the U.K. focusing on the kinds of lawsuits Houston-based Lanier Law Firm handles in the U.S., such as mass tort, antitrust and product liability litigation.

The partners in the new firm, Lanier, Longstaff, Hedar & Roberts, are U.K. barristers Tom Longstaff and Duncan Hedar, both former solicitors who worked at Linklaters before becoming barristers; Lanier; and Kevin Roberts, chief operating officer of the Lanier Law Firm.

Lanier Longstaff is based in Manchester, and Longstaff said they expect to grow the firm to 15 lawyers in the short term. It is organized as an alternative business structure licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.