Eversheds and Jaques to reveal all

NATIONAL law firm Eversheds and City-based Jaques & Lewis are set to announce the result of their merger talks.

Discussions have reached an advanced stage and a formal announcement is expected next week.

For the moment, however, both firms are remaining tight-lipped about the developments.

If the merger goes ahead, as expected, it will create the largest law firm in the country with more than 900 fee-earners.

Eversheds has been looking for a big City foothold for some time to boost its existing London presence. But talks with Theodore Goddard in 1993 fell through.

All signs point to the firm realising its ambition with Jaques & Lewis, however. In the event of a merger, the City practice would become the firm's London office with staff leaving Eversheds' Gunpowder Square office.