Two of legal London’s oldest law firms are to merge.

Private client specialists Hunters, founded in 1715, and May, May & Merrimans, founded in 1786, will join forces on 1 April 2015. The merged firm, with 120 staff, will be known as Hunters, incorporating May, May & Merrimans.

Its main office will be at 9 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn.

Hunters has practised from its 17th-century premises in Lincoln’s Inn for almost 300 years. In April 2011 it incorporated the private client firm Vernor-Miles & Noble and in February 2014 took on boutique dispute resolution and transactional firm Klein Solicitors.

May, May & Merrimans has always practised within or close to the Inns of Court. In 2004, it acquired the private client practice of Bird & Bird.

Hunters has 25 partners and 14 solicitors: MMM will add 7 and 8 respectively. The combined firm’s turnover will be £13m.

Paul Almy, senior partner at Hunters, said: ‘It is our responsibility to keep evolving so that we continue to be a leading Lincoln’s Inn law firm for many generations to come. May, May & Merrimans have an exceptionally strong private client department and a very well established property practice.

‘Their team will provide us with significant strength in depth.’

Richard Taylor (pictured), senior partner at May, May & Merrimans said: ‘We believe our two firms to be an ideal fit in terms of focus, ethos and commitment to providing a high-quality and cost-effective service to clients. By joining forces we will produce one of the largest private client departments in the country.’