The European alliance of Herbert Smith, Gleiss Lutz and Stibbe has rejected the idea of extending the alliance to include formal members in Spain and Italy following a six-month review by the UK firm of its international practice.

A key issue for the review had been whether to extend the exclusive alliance of the top 10 London firm, Germany’s Gleiss Lutz and leading Benelux firm Stibbe to include informal allies Cuatrecasas of Spain and Italy’s Pavia e Ansaldo.