The City of London Law Society and the Law Society have begun meeting formally to discuss potential areas of co-operation, the Gazette has learned.

David McIntosh (pictured), City of London Law Society chairman, said the two societies were developing a ‘sensible liaison’ to present a united front on areas of mutual interest.

The City of London Law Society represents some 13,000 solicitors. It was originally part of the City of London Solicitors' Company, founded in 1908, until in 2007 it formally separated to become a freestanding local society.

Regular meetings between the two are to begin following their first formal contact. McIntosh said most of the meetings’ content will be kept private.

He said Lord Hunt’s regulation review was not on the agenda of the liaison group.

‘This is a recognition by both sides that there needs to be an interface for matters of common interest,’ he said. ‘Where there are matters of joint interest and concern, we can make sure we go shoulder to shoulder.

‘There are three strands: what the Law Society does for the City, what the City of London Law Society does for the City, and what the City law firms do for themselves.

‘We are the group through which the Law Society expects to keep in touch with City lawyers’ concerns, so we can work together on the first two strands. But I don’t want to tread on the toes of our member firms in terms of their self-representation.’

A Law Society spokesman said: ‘We are in frequent contact with the majority of local law societies as we work to serve our members better.’