Anderson Strathern is to merge with commercial boutique Kerr & Co at the beginning of 2008, creating a 44-partner firm.

The newly formed Scottish firm will trade under the Anderson Strathern name.

Eighteen Kerr lawyers will join Anderson Strathern, including partners David Hustwayte, Paul Lombardi and Alison Forsyth.

Anderson Strathern chairman Robert Carr said: “Around 50 per cent of Anderson Strathern’s clients have major interests in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and Kerr & Co’s client base, while focused in Glasgow, extends throughout the UK. We’ll be able to expand the range of services on offer to the established client bases of both firms from our Glasgow office.”