Addleshaw Booth & Co and Theodore Goddard have voted to merge on 1 May 2003.
The merged firm will be called Addleshaw Goddard, with Addleshaws managing partner Mark Jones and senior partner Paul Lee retaining their titles to run the new firm.
Theodore Goddard senior partner Paddy Grafton Green will be partnership chairman while his chief operating officer Nigel West will return to his old role as head of banking. Theodore Goddard's Hamish Porter will head the commercial group.
From Addleshaws, Sean Lippell will head corporate, Malcolm Pike will head employment and litigation and Paul Howell will head property.
Corporate first to face cuts at Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance is in the process of axing approximately 20 corporate lawyers and support staff in its London office.