Gateley has moved into new London premises as the firm continues to bulk up its presence in the capital. 

The move has seen the firm transfer from its previous office on Holborn Viaduct to a larger base at 1 Paternoster Square, beside the London Stock Exchange, on a 10-year lease.

The firm has upgraded from its former 11,500 sq ft multi-tenancy residence to become the sole occupant of a three-floor, 16,000 sq ft building next to St Paul's.

The move, led by corporate partner and UK board member Paul Hayward, comes as part of a push by the firm to expand into higher value, City-focused areas, and follows a period of sustained investment by the firm in its London operation.

The team has more than doubled in the past two years to a headcount of 70, including 18 partners. 

Recent London partner hires include real estate litigation partner Tim Brookes in May and banking head Colin Mattis in 2011, both of whom joined from Shoosmiths. 

Gateley senior partner Mike Ward told Legal Week: "The new office is bigger and better than what we had in Holborn. 

"The two main drivers behind the move are that it will allow us to carry out work that has a national presence while also enabling us to expand our London-centric offering, such as insurance, shipping and transport and media."

Gateley's London office was originally formed in 2007, following a merger with shipping boutique Shaw & Croft, and strengthened the following year by a combination with transport specialist Holmes Hardingham.