International firm Kennedys has announced a merger with one of Scotland’s biggest litigation firms.

The insurance law specialist will join with Simpson & Marwick to form a firm with more than 1,500 staff members and a combined turnover predicted to exceed £160m this financial year.

The merger is intended to increase services and resources for clients across the UK, Ireland and internationally.

Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas (pictured) said the firms were linked by a similar client base and specialist practice areas.

‘There have been a number of clients for whom, and cases on which, Kennedys and Simpson & Marwick have worked together over a number of years and it became obvious that a merger would benefit both firms’ clients, partners and staff.’

The combined firm will be known as Kennedys, although Simpson & Marwick will retain its name in Scotland for a period after the merger.

The residential property business will continue indefinitely to trade under the name Simpson & Marwick.

Kennedys has already confirmed one merger this summer, announcing a link with aviation firm Gates & Partners in June.

The firm now has 177 partners and a total staff of more than 1,200 people in 19 offices across the world.

It advises clients on banking and finance, company and commercial law, dispute resolution, employment, health and safety, liability and regulatory defence.

Simpson & Marwick has 43 partners and around 270 employees, with five offices in Scotland and bases in Newcastle, Leeds and London.

The move is the latest of a series of Anglo-Scottish mergers, with Shoosmiths and Archibald Campbell & Harley, DWF and Biggart Baillie, Pinsent Masons and McGrigors and TLT and Anderson Fyfe all joining forces.