City law firm founded before the French Revolution in merger

City law firm Druces, which last year celebrated its 250th anniversary, is to merge with West End firm Ronaldsons.

Following the merger Druces will climb to 15th on the list of law firms in the UK with the most AIM clients, according to Adviser Rankings.

Read more: Exclusive: City law firm Rosenblatt mulling a London IPO

The firm will add capital markets partners Stephen Ronaldson and Dominic Traynor to its team alongside litigation partner Neil Hayter, property consultant Roger France-Hayhurst, an associate and several support staff.

Druces’ senior partner Roy Campbell said: “In 2017 we celebrated our 250th anniversary and now we are looking at the next 250 years.”

Campbell said that the firm had some client relationships that stretched back 150 years, but despite this legacy he emphasised the forward looking nature of the business.

“The firm was set up in 1767, which is earlier than the US declaration of independence and the French revolution, but we don’t dwell on the past we have to keep moving forward,” he said.

Read more: Will the number of listed law firms double over the next 12 months?

Campbell said that the firm was going from “strength to strength” and was “on track to announce a fourth year of double digit financial growth”.

Senior partner at Ronaldsons, Stephen Ronaldson, said that the deal “will complement our existing strengths and enable clients to benefit from Druces broader competencies and skill sets.”

The merger will go live on 3 April.

Go to Source