Ashurst will move to ramp up its lawyer headcount in Asia and shake up its partner remuneration over the next three years in the wake of its ambitious tie-up with leading Australian firm Blake Dawson.

The City law firm, which agreed the union with Blakes last week (23 September), is planning to sharply increase joint lawyer numbers in Asia from around 155 lawyers at present. One Ashurst partner predicted the Asia headcount could double by 2014.