S J BerwinSJ Berwin is to seal its long-delayed merger with its German arm this year after reaching a compromise deal to financially integrate the allied multi-disciplinary partnership (MDP) with its UK base.

The move, which will fully integrate the top 25 UK firm with 20-partner SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch & Steininger from 1 May, follows months of negotiations between the firm and the English Law Society, which still bans MDPs in the UK.