City firm Sprecher Grier Halberstam has announced a merger with national firm Martineau after months of talks.

The new business - SGH Martineau - will create a team of 360 staff members, of whom 200 are fee earners and 62 are partners. The two firms had a combined turnover of more than £30m last year and the combined entity will enter the top 70 of the UK market.

Martineau managing partner, Bill Barker, will continue in this role for the new firm, with Andrew Whitehead as senior partner.

SGH managing partner Emma Shipp and head of litigation, David Bailey, will join the executive board to help drive growth and ensure the smooth integration of the two businesses.

Shipp said: 'We’re very similar in our outlook and ambitions, which will no doubt help as we embark on the process to become one. This merger will add even greater depth to the high quality service both firms already provide and offer real benefits to clients.’

The new business will have offices in Birmingham, London and Brussels, offering a range of legal services in the energy, banking, restructuring, insolvency, investment funds, education, private wealth, industry and manufacturing, construction and leisure sectors.