Two well-known Liverpool firms have merged to create one of the largest criminal defence teams on Merseyside.

Criminal law firm RM Broudie and the criminal law team at Jackson & Canter have joined forces to become RM Broudie Jackson & Canter – The Justice Partnership.

RM Broudie is a solely criminal law practice, but Jackson & Canter provides a range of criminal and civil law services.

The new entity will provide services to clients in the police station, and magistrates’ and Crown courts, as well as advising on prison law and actions against the police.

Jackson & Canter is a member of national law firm network Quality Solicitors. Quality Solicitors Jackson & Canter will trade as a separate business, but both entities will operate under the trading name of Jackson & Canter.

Former Law Society president Andrew Holroyd, managing partner at Jackson & Canter, will be the managing partner of the new firm.

He said: ‘This is an important development for our practice and for clients who seek justice before the law here on Merseyside.

‘No other firm has the breadth of knowledge and experience of this new combined practice in this area of law.’

He said the legal market is changing and firms need to ‘sharpen up’ their marketing, demonstrating what they are selling and what they are doing for different clients.

Paul Thompson, partner and head of RM Broudie, said: ‘We are excited by the prospect of joining forces with Jackson & Canter.

‘We are confident that through this development we can provide an enhanced service to all our clients and a secure future for the staff of both practices.'