The end of the year has brought with it a spate of mergers up and down the country.


Lichfield-based Keelys has acquired defendant insurance litigation practice Burrells, formerly L Dawson & Co, to add to its London office. Partners Derek Burrell and Eamonn Clifford move across to Keelys London, which began in 2004 with the acquisition of the cost litigation practice of Simon Murray.



Meanwhile, Cheshire law firm SAS Daniels is moving into Chester on 1 February 2008 after taking over two-partner local firm Richard Lee. SAS will have 21 partners post-merger, and five offices.



There is a similar story up the road in Liverpool, where 22-partner EAD is to absorb three-partner Widnes practice Poole Swale, which has an established reputation for private client work.



In Essex, Ellisons and PTL Solicitors are merging to create an 18-partner practice under the Ellisons name. Ellisons has offices in Colchester, Frinton-on-Sea and Dovercourt; PTL is in Colchester and Clacton.