Law firm BLG to merge with Clyde & Co

BARLOW Lyde & Gilbert, the law firm which opened in the North West last year, is to merge with international firm Clyde & Co in November.

Under the terms of the deal – which has been approved by partner votes in both firms – the BLG name will cease to exist on November 1 when the combined firm takes the Clyde and Co name.

The enlarged practice will have 270 partners, more than 1,250 fee earners and around 2,250 total staff in 27 offices, including Chancery Place, Manchester.

BLG, one of the leading players in the insurance market, acquired Halliwells’ insurance team last July, before the firm went into administration.

David Jabbari, chief executive of BLG, said: “The merged firm will represent one of the very top dispute resolution practices, while the combination of the two leading insurance law firms will provide the market with a breadth and quality of offering that will be difficult to match.

“Given the shared focus of the two firms we have a huge amount of common ground and similar cultures with which to work. This will enable us to maintain our focus on our clients while we bring the operations of the two firms together.”