The new combined Rolleston McElwee Solicitors will be based at the former Rolleston offices in Portlaoise, with a sub-office at the former McElwee offices in nearby Mountmellick, Laois Today reports.

James McElwee, who founded his practice in 2011, will work alongside managing partner Eugene O’Connor and senior solicitor Deborah Holland of Rollestons, which has formed part of the legal landscape in Laois for over a century.

Mr O’Connor said: “This merger represents further strategic growth for the firm and will allow us support our clients with additional expertise and experience and enable us to expand into new areas of legal practice whilst also concentrating on our core values, most important of which is a commitment to providing high quality and commercially focused advice to our clients.”