Mills & Reeve is opening offices in the centre of Leeds and recruiting some of the country's most highly regarded lawyers to extend its geographical reach.

The move has created Europe's largest team of dedicated family law and divorce specialists.

The Leeds launch, along with new offices being opened at the same time in Manchester, takes Mills & Reeve's national family law team to more than 40, inc-luding eight partners. The firm is set to post record financial results in 2008, with turnover due to exceed £60m. The expansion takes its strength to 84 partners and a total staff of more than 800.

Nick Stone, head of private client, said: "We have worked hard to build a family practice that is unrivalled not only in the quality of its expertise but its ability to offer specialisms in this highly complex area."

David Salter, joint national head of family law, added: "Marital breakdown and divorce are highly emotional and potentially painful experiences in people's lives... Our aim is to make the whole process as painless as possible."