Firms’ appetite for consolidation has shown little sign of abating, with three deals announced in the past month.

Top 200 firm Hewitsons, which is headquartered in Cambridge, officially merges with commercial London-based Moorhead James this week after partners from both firms voted in favour.

The new firm, Hewitson Moorhead, will have 46 partners, 120 lawyers and annual combined revenue of £16m.

The newly merged firm is looking to attract and retain lawyers who want the flexibility of being able to serve clients from a London base without the need to be based there permanently.  

Also this week, national firm Cartwright King will merge with Oxfordshire firm Macnab Clarke to take it to 18 offices across the country.

The enlarged Cartwright King will have more than 260 employees, following mergers with firms in Manchester and London.

Managing director Rupert Hawke said: ‘This merger represents another key development in Cartwright King’s ongoing expansion plans, and we continue to welcome enquiries from firms across the UK.’

Meanwhile, north-west firm Garratts, which recently left the QualitySolicitors network, has expanded with the acquisition of Manchester firm Heath Sons & Broome, which has been established for more than 250 years.