DWF has announced plans to merge with Belfast-based commercial firm C & H Jefferson.

DWF said the merger, to take effect from Thursday 1 December, continues its focus on increasing its service delivery capability to national and international clients across the UK’s industrial, commercial, property and insurance markets.

Ken Rutherford, managing partner at C & H Jefferson, said DWF is a “very strong fit” for the firm, one of the largest legal practices in Northern Ireland and a leader in the Belfast market.

Its Belfast headquarters will become DWF’s 12th UK office. DWF also has locations in Dublin, Cologne, Munich, Dubai and Brussels.

Following the merger, Mr Rutherford will join Gareth Jones, Scott McCarroll, Mark Tinman and Ian Stanfield at DWF as partners, and David Lennon will become a consultant.

Speaking about the merger, Mr Rutherford said: “As our international client base has grown we have continued to explore how we can adapt in order to meet their changing needs.

“DWF is a very strong fit for us in terms of its culture and approach to legal services, and through this merger we will be able to create new opportunities for our clients with the benefit of DWF’s expansive national footprint, service efficiencies and growing international remit.”

Wayne Lawrence, executive partner at DWF’s Edinburgh office, added: “As a firm we are always looking at strategic opportunities for growth that will enhance our legal capability in key practice areas and allow us to offer our clients advantages in terms of resource, reach and multi-jurisdiction expertise.

“The legal market in Northern Ireland is vibrant, and rapidly changing, and this merger makes us well-equipped to take advantage of the growing number of opportunities it presents in our target sectors.”