Two established Essex firms will on 1 July become the latest legal aid firms to merge.

Fisher Jones Greenwood, which has offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Clacton-on-Sea, will join forces with Chelmsford firm Budd Martin Burrett in the fourth major legal aid firm tie-up this year.

The new firm will be known as Fisher Jones Greenwood (incorporating) Budd Martin Burrett, with 15 partners and 135 staff in total.

It will be one of the few remaining commercial firms that also does publicly funded work.

It also provides private client services.

Tony Fisher, senior partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood, said: ‘There are challenging times ahead for the legal profession generally and only the most efficient and client-focused firms will prosper in the new legal services environment.’

Other legal aid firms to merge this year have included: London firms Blacklaws Davis and TV Edwards; M1 corridor firm Noble, and Wembley and Watford firm Tank Jowett; and Merseyside firms RM Broudie and Jackson & Canter.