Brighton-based law firm DMH has boosted its presence in London by merging with Stallard Solicitors to create a 47-partner firm.

DMH Stallard will operate from offices in Brighton, Crawley/Gatwick, and London. It has a combined fee income of £21 million, with profits per partner at £175,000. It will have a firm-wide complement of more than 360 people. Stallard had 15 partners.


South-east alliance: Tim Aspinall (l) and Keith Robinson

Managing partner Tim Aspinall said the three offices were now of equal size, explaining: 'Part of our strategy at DMH was to grow the business profitably, and develop our presence in London. The merger will allow us to develop our practice in the London market, particularly in the areas of corporate and public company work. The additional depth of legal resource will also help us to win work for groups in Brighton and Crawley/Gatwick.

'We decided to join forces with Stallard Solicitors when it became apparent that the two firms would be more of a fit with areas of expertise that can complement each other rather than a mirror image of each other. There will be many opportunities to work together.'


Keith Robinson, who was Stallard's senior partner and is now a member of the merged firm's management team, added: 'The merged practice puts us firmly in the top 100, and gives us some significant added extras, including access to the south-east market and specific areas of expertise, including planning and private client.'


The firm's commercial client list includes Royal Bank of Scotland, Crest Nicholson, Tilfen Land, GE Life, Keith Bayley Rogers & Co, while the London Borough of Croydon, Queen Victoria Hospitals NHS Trust, The Royal Institution and South London Family Housing Association are among its public sector clients.