Addleshaws managing partner John Joyce has succeeded in securing enough partner votes to usher through the firm’s merger with HBJ Gateley. The deal will see Addleshaws take over HBJ Gateley’s three offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, creating a combined firm with annual revenues around £220m. Mr Joyce needed approval from 75 per cent of Addleshaws’ partnership in order to confirm the merger, with ballots set to close today (28 November). While this number was achieved, Addleshaws has declined to say how many partners abstained from voting. The union between the two firms is now set to go live before 1 June, with Mr Joyce and senior partner Charles Penney retaining their positions in the firm. HBJ Gateley chairman Malcolm McPherson will join Addleshaws’ board.

Sources: Legal Business; Legal Week