McGrigors bulks up in Belfast with local merger

Julia Berris

Edinburgh-headquartered firm McGrigors has merged with Irish firm L'Estrange & Brett, its second merger in a year.

McGrigors, which has had a Belfast office since 2000, will combine with L'Estrange on 1 October with the Scottish firm's Belfast lawyers moving into L'Estrange's office at that point.
The move comes after McGrigors last year strengthened its City presence after buying out West End litigation boutique Reid Minty (4 August 2008).
Speaking about the Belfast merger, McGrigors managing partner Richard Master said: "We wanted to strengthen our market position and gain critical mass. This deal achieves that in one stroke."
L'Estrange will take on the McGrigors brand when the merger goes through and the two firms will become financially integrated.
L'Estrange senior partner Brian Henderson said: "We see it as an important strategic move, which will also help us build on existing business gains in the UK and Ireland."