A spate of law firm mergers has taken place across the country – but the biggest potential deal appears to be a non-starter.

Talk of a merger between top-50 firms Ince & Co and Watson Farley & Williams appears to be wide of the mark after a denial from one of the firm’s senior staff.

Reports yesterday suggested the two firms were in talks about joining together, but Ince & Co senior partner Jan Heuvels today dismissed the story.

‘I regularly sit down to discuss business issues with other firms that operate in similar sectors to ours,’ he said.

‘None of these discussions, including those with Watson Farley & Williams, have progressed to discuss a merger.’

But several deals have concluded. Hampshire firm Trethowans this month announced its deal with Dorset firm Dickinson Manser to create one of the largest legal practices in the region.

The new firm, known as Trethowans, will have 27 partners and 65 lawyers. It comes 10 months after the top 200 firm expanded into a second office in Southampton.

In Greater Manchester, Almond Solicitors has entered into an agreement to acquire Hugh Joseph Solicitors in a move which the firm says will be the start of a five-year expansion plan.

Almond Solicitors was only founded four years ago by Greg Almond but is expected to announce further acquisitions in the coming years.

Its combined team of 25 will advise on personal injury claims, family and employment law, conveyancing and wills and probate.

Almond, director of Almond Solicitors, said: ‘Now is the right time to grow our firm as we aim to offer a mix of experience, delivered with a modern approach, to residents and businesses within Greater Manchester.’

And in East Anglia, Taylor Rose Law and Tucker Turner Kingsley Wood have become Taylor Rose TTKW after a merger was finalised.

The combined firm is expected to attract revenues big enough to enter the top 200, with Tucker Turner Kingsley Wood LLP bringing additional expertise in property, employment, private client, commercial and corporate law, with more than 70 staff.