Merged duo target City white-collar crime cases

South East firms Robert Blackford & Co and Francis Lovett are merging with the aim of becoming the number one referral white-collar crime firm for the City.

Croydon-based Robert Blackford specialises in criminal defence and family law. Crime firm Francis Lovett is based in Woking, Surrey, and specialises in fraud and e-crime.

Francis Lovett managing partner Trevor Francis said: "We're hoping to offer our serious fraud expertise to City firms that don't touch criminal law at all, but will have white-collar clients with criminal needs mixed into civil litigation."

Francis Lovett has 21 lawyers in its criminal defence team and four in family. It has a satellite office in Temple. Both firms are members of the Government's specialist fraud panel.

Francis will be the managing partner of the new firm, Blackfords LLP. It will be formed officially on 1 April and have a turnover of £3m.