Wragges-Tarlo Lyons merger talks cave in

Merger talks between Birmingham giant Wragge & Co and London IT specialist Tarlo Lyons have collapsed.
The two firms entered negotiations three months ago but failed to reach the stage of a partnership vote.
Wragges senior partner John Crabtree said he did not plan to make Tarlo Lyons a full-service City office for Wragges. He saw the merger as the next step from being a single-site firm to sector-based expansion.
"But we just couldn't generate enough enthusiasm to go ahead," he told The Lawyer.
Crabtree and Tarlo Lyons managing partner Nigel McEwen first met at The Lawyer Awards, and both insist they are still friends.
Neither firm is ruling out a merger in the future. McEwen is confident that Tarlo Lyons has enough cachet in the market to hold out for the right merger partner, although he is not particularly attracted to the idea of a London merger.
He said: "The firm's not scared of being left at the end of the dance to get the bus home on its own, because the firm doesn't need protecting. I think US firms will continue to be interested in us.
"We're always looking at ways to develop our service lines. We're up for anything and will try anything out."