Belfast firm Wilson Nesbitt and Scottish firm Aberdein Considine have announced a new long-term collaboration.

The Scottish-headquartered partnership said the deal will allow it to offer legal services across the entire United Kingdom for the first time.

The agreement follows the firm’s acquisition of Newcastle-based Wallers Solicitors last year and allows the business to offer a seamless debt and asset recovery, litigation and conveyancing service across all three of the UK’s legal jurisdictions.

Aberdein Considine provides legal services to commercial clients including RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Santander, as well as high street retailers including Greggs PLC and Rox.

The UK-wide expansion has been driven by its work with banks and other lender clients, who are increasingly looking to streamline their recovery panels.

Rob Aberdein, UK partner in charge of Lender Services at Aberdein Considine, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Wilson Nesbitt, which is a leading litigation practise and specialist in recoveries in Northern Ireland.

“We already act for some of the UK’s biggest lenders in Scotland - and this deal brings our customer, compliance and regulatory-focused debt & asset recovery and conveyancing services into the entire UK legal market for the first time.

“The agreement allows us to provide legal services to lenders across all jurisdictions and will see both firms integrate compliance frameworks and case management systems in order to deliver a seamless, multi-jurisdiction service.”