National firm Irwin Mitchell is to merge with volume services business Golds in a deal that will create the fourth largest legal practice in the UK by number of fee-earners.


Best known for its lending and recovery services for financial institutions, Golds has 400 staff based in offices in Glasgow and Manchester. The combined firm, which will trade under the Irwin Mitchell name from 1 April, will have more than 2,300 staff and 1,200 fee-earners.



The move comes just 12 months after Irwin Mitchell merged with personal injury and clinical negligence law firm Alexander Harris.



Irwin Mitchell managing partner Howard Culley said the government's reforms to the legal services market are a key factor behind the deal.



He said: 'Irwin Mitchell has supported the proposed changes to the legal industry set out in the Legal Services Bill. Realising the opportunities that a de-regulated market will offer, our aim is to position the firm as a leader in the delivery of volume legal services in the UK, whilst continuing to develop our specialist areas of practice.'



Mr Culley added that the merger would also give Irwin Mitchell a base to promote its personal injury and clinical negligence practice in Scotland.