South-coast merger allows firms to challenge London

Leading south-coast commercial firms Blake Lapthorn and Sherwin Oliver are to merge in an effort to expand their services beyond the Solent region.The Sherwin Oliver staff, including its 12 partners, will gradually leave their Portsmouth offices to integrate into Blake Lapthorn's offices in Portsmouth, Fareham and Southampton.

The new 56-partner firm will trade under the Blake Lapthorn name.Sherwin Oliver specialises primarily in insolvency, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, commercial property, franchising and IT.Blake Lapthorn senior partner David Russell said there were three things to be gained from the merger.

'Firstly, Sherwins are particularly strong in certain niche areas that we are weaker in,' he said.

'They are also a very forward-thinking firm in general commercial work and the merger will reduce the economies of expenditure.'He added: 'We have known each other a long time as competitors, working in similar fields and both firms believe it to be a good marriage of abilities.'David Oliver, an insolvency partner at Sherwins, said the merger was a 'very good fit' adding that the new larger insolvency team would 'pack a lot of clout'.'In terms of insolvency we will have a pretty formidable bunch of people,' he said.

'It will be a challenge laid down not only to the south-east, but we will also be knocking on the door in London, where we will be looking for work.'Andrew Towler