Bircham Dyson Bell and Dundas & Wilson confirm merger talks

Law firms Bircham Dyson Bell and Dundas & Wilson have held merger talks, senior management have confirmed.

In a joint statement, the firms’ managing partners – Donald Shaw of Dundas & Wilson and Guy Vincent of Bircham Dyson Bell – said: “As both firms have previously confirmed separately, we are committed to developing our businesses, and each party has been considering various options including combining forces with firms who could help us to achieve that aim.

“Given our positive mutual experience of collaboration to date, we can confirm that discussions between Dundas & Wilson and Bircham Dyson Bell have taken place as to whether we might combine forces more formally. At this stage we have reached no conclusions so it is very much business as usual for both firms.”

Shaw and Vincent said there would be no further comment on the possible tie-up.

Dundas & Wilson – which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London – saw turnover reach £62m in 2010/11. Bircham Dyson Bell, which is based in London, brought in more than £31m in revenue over the same period.