Top-50 law firm Charles Russell and City firm Speechly Bircham have confirmed that they are in preliminary merger talks.

The move would place the combined firm in the top 25 UK law firms with a combined turnover of £126.4m and around 180 partners.

A joint statement issued by the firms said: ‘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 UK and internationally.’ 
 


The statement said the firms are consulting their partners and other key stakeholders. ‘No further announcement will be made by either firm until those consultations are complete.’