The tie-up brings a wider full-service legal offering to Northern Ireland which will complement McKees’ existing specialisms, the firm said.

McKees was founded in 1887 by the great-step-grandfather of managing director Chris Ross and is well established in the Northern Ireland commercial law market.

Foot Anstey is a top 100 law firm with over 50 partners and almost 700 employees across nine locations in Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Plymouth and Southampton.

Mr Ross said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with Foot Anstey LLP and through this new tie-up we will further strengthen our commercial legal services.

“The tie-up came from a shared vision, values and ethos and the culture of both firms is perfectly aligned, so we are confident that together, we have created a unique legal services firm offering clients specialist advice across Britain and Ireland.

“One of our key aims is to grow and support our highly experienced teams of industry leading lawyers across all sectors as well as offering even more services to our clients, and we are excited about the opportunities that this alliance presents for both.”

Martin Hirst, managing partner at Foot Anstey, added: “Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in both our stories.

“Northern Ireland provides a critical gateway to European markets, and the combination will offer significant opportunities to existing and new clients alike.

“Like us, McKees is an ambitious firm with a loyal and impressive client base and rigorous focus on quality. It has been striking just how aligned we are in terms of culture, with a true focus on innovation and collaboration at every level.”