VENERABLE Glasgow law firm Mitchells Roberton has merged with city solicitors Adie Hunter.

The deal will see Adie Hunter partners David Adie and Graeme Hunter link up with Mitchells Roberton as consultants, with all but one of their seven staff joining the merged firm.

They swell the ranks of the 55 staff and eight partners employed by Mitchell Roberton, which can trace its involvement in Scottish legal affairs back to the 1700s.

The enlarge entity will trade as Mitchells Roberton. Based at Mitchells Roberton’s office on North Hanover Street, it is said that the deal will expand the historic firm’s traditional family and commercial service while preserving its personal touch.

Adie Hunter, which has been practising since 1988, has built up a “strong” client portfolio of small and medium-sized businesses and private individuals, specialising in areas such as property and conveyancing. The firm’s office in Newton Place in Glasgow’s west end will close.

Donald Reid, partner and chairman of Mitchells Roberton, said: “We are all very much looking forward to welcoming David and Graeme and working with them and their experienced colleagues. There are strong similarities between our firms in terms of shared professional values and client focus, but we are not identical and will have much expertise to offer each other. We will have to work hard, but it will be fun as well.”

Mr Hunter said: “David and I are very comfortable about bringing our clients into the Mitchells Roberton stable. As a firm, they have the same outlook as us and they think the same way.”