Michael ShawManchester’s Cobbetts is locked in merger talks with Midlands stalwart Lee Crowder, in a move that would launch the northwest firm onto the national scene.

Cobbetts managing partner Michael Shaw confirmed this week that he had begun discussions with Lee Crowder senior partner Stephen Gilmore over a merger between the two firms. Partners have not yet been formally consulted on the proposals, which were described in a joint firm statement as “exploratory and at senior management level”.