Blake Lapthorn and Morgan Cole to merge

updated on 21 March 2014

Blake Lapthorn will merge with Morgan Cole on 1 July 2014, it has been announced.

As reported by The Lawyer, the merged firm will be called Blake Morgan and will have 900 staff, including 20 partners, and a combined turnover of £72 million. The move continues Blake Lapthorn's strategy of expansion through merger – this being the fourth merger undertaken by the firm since 2001.

It is understood that Cardiff-based Morgan Cole became open to a merger following disappointing profit reports in January and a fall in the firm's equity.