WARRINGTON'S two largest law firms are to merge - Forshaws and Davies Ridgway - are to join forces from July, creating an £8m-turnover practice with 150 staff.
The combined firm will be called FDR Solicitors.
It will be the 15th biggest firm based solely in the north west, and one of the top 200 nationwide.
It will provide services in the fields of commercial, conveyancing, criminal, family law, litigation and probate.
Forshaws, the larger of the two with 12 members and a total of 90 staff, was formed in 1878.
Davies Ridgway - which has eight members and 60 staff is more than 200 years old.
Forshaws' John King said: "We believe that the merger will enable us to deal more effectively with the commercial and professional challenges that face lawyers at this time.
"This will also allow us to improve and develop the range of legal services which we offer to our clients."
Davies Ridgway partner Charles Agar said: "The new practice will continue to work with existing clients while looking to provide Warrington and Cheshire with the first law practice of sufficient stature and size to offer a truly viable alternative to the large practices in Manchester and Liverpool."