The merger of city law firm Tarlo Lyons and Oxford-based Blake Lapthorn Linnell was rubber stamped today.

The combined firm has 105 partners and a total staff of more than 700, with offices in Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Fareham and London as well as in Seacourt Tower, Botley.

The company will now be known as Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons, removing Linnells, the original Oxford-based company, from the name.

Walter Cha, managing partner of Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons, said: "This is a very exciting time for the firm and for our clients.

"The new range of services the firm offers, our locations and our reputation for client service excellence, puts Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons in a very strong position for the future."

The London office of Blake Lapthorn Linnell will close with 31 staff moving to the city offices of Tarlo Lyons which are being refurbished.

Warren Foot, co-managing partner of Tarlo Lyons, will join the firm's management board, and Oxford-based Jonathan Lloyd-Jones remains as senior partner of the new firm.

The deal marks the end of a busy year for Blake Lapthorn Linnell after it merged with Hampshire firm White & Bowker May.

A total of 256 staff in Oxford out of which 27 are partners.