Blake Lapthorn and Linnells create new 79-partner firm

South-coast firm Blake Lapthorn is merging with Oxford-based corporate firm Linnells to create a new 79-partner outfit which will be one of the biggest regional players in the south of England.

Blake Lapthorn has 57 partners and 220 fee-earners based in Fareham, London, Southampton and Portsmouth; Linnells has 22 partners and 26 other lawyers in Oxford.

The new firm - Blake Lapthorn Linnells - will be run by an 11-member management board headed by managing partner Walter Cha and senior partner Carey Blake, retaining their positions from Blake Lapthorn.

Linnells senior and managing partners - Jonathan Lloyd-Jones and Edward Lee respectively - will join the management board.

A Blake Lapthorn spokesman said a few partners from that firm would probably relocate to Linnells' Oxford office.

He said the firm would be looking to recruit more lawyers as a consequence of the merger, but only after a 'bedding down' period.

Mr Cha said: 'Both firms are committed to further strategic growth and the merger provides a wider geographical base in which to develop the legal services of the merged firm.'

Jeremy Fleming