UK firm Shoosmiths has announced it is expanding into Northern Ireland through a merger with Belfast firm McManus Kearney.

Shoosmiths chief executive Claire Rowe said the merger, which brings the firm’s total number of offices to 12, was “motivated by client demand and by our wish to have a commercial presence in Northern Ireland”.

Ms Rowe added: “It is a pleasure to bring Shoosmiths to Northern Ireland, through a well-known, trusted and successful business such as McManus Kearney.”

Founded in 1987, McManus Kearney has specialist expertise in debt and insolvency matters in Northern Ireland.

The firm will be known as Shoosmiths from today, and its two partners - Mary Frances Kearney and Jason Byrne - and 14 staff will remain at the firm’s Belfast office at Lesley Suites, 2-12 Montgomery Street.

Waine Mannix, head of recoveries services at Shoosmiths, said: “McManus Kearney has an excellent, longstanding reputation in the Northern Ireland and UK market for financial services recoveries, personal insolvency, commercial contracts and HNW private client work.

“The Shoosmiths recoveries services group has worked with McManus Kearney for a number of years, sharing places on clients’ panels and through instructing the firm. Each time the firm has demonstrated we share the same values - the pinnacle being our commitment to providing exceptional client service.”

Ms Kearney added: “We have known of and worked with Shoosmiths for a long time. It’s a terrific cultural fit. The firm’s reputation in the recoveries market is exemplary and Shoosmiths as a whole has an unsurpassed reputation for client service.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Shoosmiths after working very hard to build our successful business over 30 years and look forward to playing a part in building Shoosmiths’ presence in Northern Ireland.”

Shoosmiths partner Stephen Dawson, who leads the firm’s financial services advisory team and is already based in Northern Ireland, will lend his support to the growth and development of the new office.