Coudert Brothers has begun the hunt for a French merger to strengthen its Paris practice as the US firm elects veteran George Yates as its new managing partner for France.

Yates, who has been with the firm for almost 30 years, took up the position this month, and told Legal Week the firm was looking towards a local merger to further develop its core strengths.
“[A merger] is not out of practice with the firm as we have taken that route in Europe and Australia.