SCOTTISH law firm Blackadders is moving into Aberdeen through a merger with Adam Cochran.
The move, which is expected to be formalised on January 1 next year, will result in a practice with 21 partners and 170 staff.
It follows on from Blackadders extending into Edinburgh through a tie-up with McKay Norwell last year. Blackadders also has offices in Dundee, Arbroath and Forfar.
The latest merger will see Adam Cochran duo Peter Robertson and Gareth Masson become partners at Blackadders with a total of 12 staff moving across.
Johnston Clark, managing partner of Blackadders, said the firm is keen to grow in the granite city and added: "This will give the firm a strong and unique presence in the major centres on Scotland's east coast, offering a full range of services from our Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh offices.
"Our growth into a national firm will create increased strength and depth of client service."
Separately an annual survey, carried out by accountancy giant PwC, found law firms from Scotland listed in the UK top 100 by fee income expect there to be continuing merger activity in the sector.
Mike McCusker, a partner in PwC's law firms advisory group, said: "Against a challenging backdrop, 2013 could be seen as a turning point for the legal sector as certain firms remain resilient and grow, while others continue to struggle, with the gap between best and worst performing widening further.
"The legal sector in both the Scottish and wider UK context has come under increased scrutiny from banks and regulators following a number of well-publicised law firm insolvencies, mergers and acquisitions.This trend is set to continue with further consolidation of the market very likely."
There were six Scottish firms placed in the Top 100 for the research.
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