Liverpool-based Astraea Legal has acquired fellow city law firm Linskills Solicitors marking the start of a "rapid expansion".
Boutique law firm and criminal and commercial litigation specialists Astraea said it was "honoured" to be working alongside the "legendary" criminal law specialists at Linskills, with the deal done for an undisclosed sum.
Progressive law firm Astraea, which was founded in 2016 and specialises in various legal services, currently has offices in both Liverpool and London, and the acquisition will see the team grow from eight to 20.
Linskills will continue to trade under their current name and founder Julian Linskill will remain part of the team "for the foreseeable future".
Astraea's founder and managing partner Nama Zarroug said: "Our aim is to build on Linskills’ exceptional reputation and take their legacy forward as part of our international practice. They have been a well-respected player in the Liverpool legal scene for over 40 years and we are looking forward to be working alongside such experienced professionals."
Ms Zarroug said the acquisition will help fast-track the firm's commitment to championing access to justice for some of the area’s most vulnerable clients.
She added: "Linskills will remain the trading name for all of our publicly funded work and together with our expertise in areas such as crime, property, civil litigation, family and welfare this will expand and enrich our overall offering."
Mr Linskill said: "This marks a new era for the whole team here at Linskills. When the Astraea team approached us we were immediately impressed by their progressive approach and felt the merger would be a real meeting of minds.
"We are all delighted to be working alongside Nama and her team and look forward to adding further strength to our core services over the coming months."
Astraea, which has offices in Liverpool and London, has also been ranked as one of the top law firms in the UK with its inclusion in the Legal 500 list.
