Tite & Lewis, the City firm previously affiliated to Big Four accountancy firm Ernst & Young, merged with Lawrence Graham this week.

The deal sees the firm's five remaining partners - founders Christopher Tite and Mark Lewis, technology and outsourcing specialists Jon Edgell and Tim Pullan, and real estate partner Louise Gowman - relocate to Lawrence Graham's offices in the Strand. Fifteen other lawyers and 11 support staff will also make the switch.



Mr Tite told the Gazette: 'There is a strong cultural and business fit between the two firms. Lawrence Graham also has ambition, and that is critical in this competitive marketplace.'



He denied that the link with Ernst & Young, which came to an end in May this year, had been a failure. 'My assessment is that it has been, and continues to have been, a terrific experience,' he said, adding that the Tite & Lewis lawyers were keen to preserve the business relationships they had built up with Ernst & Young partners and staff world-wide.


'It is mind-broadening to work alongside professionals in other disciplines - for all of us, it has broken down the silos. It taught us a huge amount that we are able to bring with us here.'


Founding duo move on: Mark Lewis and Christopher Tite
But Mr Tite added: 'Regulation has changed in a way no one could have foreseen on the back of Enron.'


Lawrence Graham managing partner Penny Francis said the merger 'perfectly complements' the firm's core areas of corporate, technology and outsourcing, and real estate. She added: 'We will always look to add on quality teams.'


The merger with Lawrence Graham represents the final chapter in Messrs Tite and Lewis's seven-year association with accountancy firms. The duo left City firm Stephenson Harwood to launch a practice in 1998 with the backing of the then Coopers & Lybrand. That firm was subsequently put together with Arnheim & Co when Coopers & Lybrand itself merged with Price Waterhouse. In 2000, the pair broke away to launch the most recent incarnation for Ernst & Young.


Of the UK firms once affiliated with the Big Four accountancy practices, only Landwell - PricewaterhouseCoopers' tied firm - retains formal links.


Andersen Legal shut in 2002 after the post-Enron demise of its accountancy parent, Andersen, while the UK arm of KLegal broke off from KPMG in 2003.


- Two other law firm mergers were announced this week. Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens merged with the City Law Partnership with effect from 1 November, giving the combined firm a total of 16 partners and 120 staff in London. Meanwhile, London firms Goodman Derrick and Berger Oliver are linking up in January 2005. The deal sees three Berger Oliver property partners - Simon Mapstone, Simon Catt and Guy Martin - join Goodman Derrick as partners, while litigation partner Paul McAndrews becomes a consultant.