Taking effect from 1 February 2026, the combined firm, which will trade as Philip Lee LLP, will have more than 50 partners in a significant milestone.

The merger is “driven by Philip Lee’s ambition to better serve its growing client base in Cork and the wider Munster region, coupled with the ambition of BHK’s partners to have access to the resources, expertise, and infrastructure needed to support its expanding client base and their increasingly complex business demands”, the firms said in a statement.

BHK was founded nine years ago by Patricia O’Brien, Gavin Hinchy and David O’Keeffe, and has established itself as a corporate-focused firm with particular strengths in real estate, corporate transactions and litigation services.

Jonathan Kelly, managing partner of Philip Lee, said: “This merger is a natural next step in our firm’s growth journey.

“Cork is a vibrant, ambitious city and we are delighted to strengthen our connection with it.

“By combining our offering with BHK Solicitors we will deliver even greater value to our clients and create new opportunities for our people.”

Patricia O’Brien, partner at BHK Solicitors, added: “We are proud of what we have built at BHK and look forward to this new chapter as part of Philip Lee.

“Our clients will benefit from the expanded expertise and resources, while our team will have new avenues for professional development and collaboration.”