Veale Wasbrough and Vizards Tweedie today announced that they are engaged in advanced merger talks.

The combined firm would have about 330 members of staff and 46 partners, operating from offices in central Bristol and Fetter Lane in London and generating a combined turnover of £22m.

Simon Heald managing partner of Veale Wasbrough, said: ‘We have been getting to know Vizards Tweedie over the last few months and I am delighted to make this announcement today. We can now move onto various important parts of the process such as consulting with our staff and clients.

‘Over the last few years, as well as growing our practice regionally from Bristol, we have been making great strides nationally in sectors such as education and charities, public and healthcare. We moved into an office in London about two years ago to support this work so this represents a great step forward. In discussions with Vizards Tweedie we have found many shared ambitions and synergies, for example in charities, private client, real estate and public sector.’

Ron Perry, managing partner of Vizards Tweedie said: ‘Today's announcement represents a major step forward in the development of our firm and provides an exciting opportunity for our lawyers.

‘Since our discussions with Veale Wasbrough first began we have been impressed by the evident synergy that we have found between a number of areas of our two practices and also by the personal chemistry that has developed.

'This merger will enable us to offer a considerably enhanced range of services to existing and new clients and we look forward with enthusiasm to playing our part in the future development of the combined firm.’