East Anglian firms Cunningham John and Few & Kester will merge in July to create a 23-partner firm.

The combined firm, to be known as Kester Cunningham John, will also open a four-partner commercial office in Norwich.

Cunningham John currently has 14 partners across offices in Watton, Thetford and Bury St Edmunds, while Few & Kester has seven partners based in Cambridge.

The merged firm will have 90 fee-earners in total.

Cunningham John's principal client base lies in construction and development, energy and waste recycling, while Few & Kester performs general commercial work and acts for a number of Cambridge colleges.

Cunningham John is also well known for its clinical negligence practice.

Cunningham John senior partner Simon John said: 'We are two firms with a variety of different client bases, but we fit very well.

There will be some staff movement between the offices but no one will be leaving as a result of the merger.

It is not a cost-cutting exercise.'

He added: 'The new firm will be the only regional - as opposed to national - firm with offices in both Norwich and Cambridge.'

Rachel Rothwell