SGH merger with Martineau revealed

London firm Sprecher Grier Halberstam (SGH) will merge with Birmingham-based Martineau on 1 December in a move that will take the new firm into the top 70 in the United Kingdom, it has been revealed.

As reported in Legal Week, the merger has been the subject of months of discussion between the two firms. The newly-merged firm will be known as SHG Martineau and will contain over 200 fee earners, bringing in approximately £30 million in revenue. The merger will significantly increase Martineau's presence in London, and the new firm will boast expertise in tax planning, trusts, procurement, intellectual property, private client, secured lending, competition, pensions and banking.

Neither firm has officially announced the merger, but a client memo from an SGH partner revealed the following: "We will shortly be merging with a firm based in Birmingham called Martineau to become SGH Martineau LLP with effect of 1 December 2011. Of all the firms that have approached us over the years, they tick all the boxes in terms of commitment to client-led service, partner involvement in all matters, and energy and drive to get things done for their clients. They are very similar to us in terms of being user-friendly and approachable to all clients. Putting the two firms together makes a lot of sense."

This merger news follows the announcement that Solihull-based Wood Glaister will also be merging with Midlands stalwart Shakespeares on 1 December.