US firm Winston & Strawn remains open to a merger with a UK law firm after making its London debut with the hire of two corporate partners from the City office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius last week.

Partners at the firm have indicated to Legal Week that the firm’s City launch – which saw partners Tom Benz and Zoe Ashcroft join from Morgan Lewis on 28 May – is viewed as a precursor to a full-scale tie-up with a credible UK player.