Speechlys and Charles Russell in merger talks, as HKFsi calls off discussions with Davenport Lyons
updated on 28 February 2014
Speechly Bircham and Charles Russell have confirmed that they are in preliminary merger talks.
As reported by The Lawyer, the resulting combination would create a top 25 law firm by turnover; together, the firm would have 176 partners and combined revenue of £125.9 million. Last year, Speechly pulled out of merger talks with Withers LLP after partners voted against the move in May.
The firms commented in a joint statement: "Both are well-established firms with complementary practice areas in the commercial, real estate and private wealth arenas. A combination would further strengthen these core practice areas while providing a strong platform for the firms’ shared ambitions for growth in the [United Kingdom] and internationally."
Meanwhile, London-based firm HowardKennedyFsi has called off merger talks with Davenport Lyons, the Law Society Gazette has confirmed. The firms began discussions at the start of February, but HKFsi - formed by the merger of Howard Kennedy and Finers Stephens Innocent in February 2013 - has confirmed its decision to withdraw and concentrate on potential consolidation with smaller Hampstead-based practice, CKFT.
