City firm Clyde & Co has become the latest UK practice to move into the Canadian marketplace.

The firm, which has 24 offices around the world, has confirmed a merger with Canadian insurance firm Nicholl Paskall-Mede (NPM).

NPM’s 40-strong team, including 15 partners, will join Clyde & Co on 1 September, focusing on insurance work.

The deal will offer a significant entry into the north American market for the UK firm and comes weeks after a merger between Norton Rose and the Canadian firm Ogilvy Renault.

James Burns, a Clyde & Co partner and board member, said: ‘Canada is an extremely attractive market with a robust and diversified economy.

‘The Canadian insurance market is going from strength to strength and the UK insurance market is building up its presence in Canada.

'NPM, as a top-rated Canadian insurance firm with existing work for Lloyd’s of London syndicates, is a natural fit for Clyde & Co.’

The UK firm will add Toronto and Montreal onto its list of offices, having already established bases in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

The firm has more than 1,400 lawyers and support staff and this year announced £212 million revenue for the 2010/11 financial year, with 41% generated from outside the UK.

Clyde & Co has also been in talks in recent weeks over a possible merger with UK insurance firm Barlow Lyde and Elliott, with an announcement likely to be made next month.