CMS Cameron McKenna has agreed a takeover of 50-lawyer firm Hayhurst Robinson, in a move that will substantially upgrade the top 20 UK firm’s Central and Eastern European practice.

The merger, which goes live on 1 January, 2006, sees the cofounders of the Eastern European firm, Robert Hayhurst and Todd Robinson, become equity partners at Camerons. Hayhurst Robinson specialises in corporate and commercial transactions across Central and southeast Europe, with offices in Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Sofia.