Top 50 firm Weightmans has announced it is in formal negotiations with a view to merging with national firm RadcliffesLeBrasseur.

The firms aim to complete the deal by the end of March to create a business with 225 partners and a total headcount of more than 1,400. The merged firm will be known as Weightmans LLP.

In a statement, the firms said: ‘The merger will add to both firms’ national practices with outstanding expertise and the resources to ensure that we continue to meet the ever-increasing needs and expectations of all clients, large and small, whether public bodies, public or private businesses, not for profit enterprises or individuals.’

RadcliffesLeBrasseur has 42 partners and 150 staff working from offices in London, Cardiff and Leeds.

Earlier this month it filed accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 which showed that while turnover dropped slightly to £15.4m, profit before tax increased 28% to £6.9m. The firm had net current assets of £6.7m, after £4m was set aside for discretionary division among members.

Weightmans’ most recently-published accounts, for the year ended 30 April 2020, shows that turnover increased by around 6% to £104m, while operating profit was almost unchanged at £30m. The firm also has offices in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.