London firm TV Edwards has announced mergers with two other London firms, further consolidating its position as one of the capital’s largest legal aid firms.

Today the firm completes a merger with Hammersmith firm Mark & Co, which has a reputation for serious criminal law work.

The move follows the tie-up last month with south-east London firm JB Wheatley & Co, one of longest established criminal practices in the capital, which was also announced today.

Further expanding its criminal team, solicitor Chris Callender has joined the firm as head of prison law. He was previously the assistant legal director at the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Solicitor Mel Stooks has moved from east London firm McCormacks to take responsibility for criminal law work involving young offenders in south London.

Over recent months, Taylor Nichol, Blacklaws Davis, Dundons, Bennett Wilkins and Sheratte Caleb have been incorporated into TV Edwards, and the firm also acquired the Tottenham office of Hickman & Rose.

These additions enable the firm to deliver services from offices throughout London and in Cambridge, and complete the first stage of the development plans for its criminal department.

As well as crime, the firm covers family law, children law, personal injury, employment, public and social welfare, mental health, education, licensing, actions against the police, civil liberties and human rights, training, property and probate.

Senior partner and head of the criminal law department Anthony Edwards (pictured) said the growth strategy, to reduce overhead costs and build work volumes while maintaining quality, was needed as the ‘drastic government cuts continue to bite’.

He said: ‘This has been an essential process as the reductions in fees paid by government are so extreme that the only way to survive is to increase the volume of work we handle.

‘We will now spend some time consolidating our position before we look at the next stage of the firm’s development.’