The merger of two of the area's leading law firms has finally been completed.

Plans to join Cripps Harries Hall and Vertex Law were announced at the start of the summer and the deal was finally completed at the weekend.

With a combined turnover of over £22.7m, the merged firm employs over 300 people including 46 partners and operates across two locations in Kent, Tunbridge Wells and Kings Hill, as well as in London.

Managing partner for the merged firm, Gavin Tyler, said: "Our merged firm now reaches over two thirds of the Kent market.

"Vertex Law has been the perfect complement for us, doubling the size of our corporate and commercial practice - clients are already benefiting from the synergies produced by the merger.

"We’re looking forward to building one of the best regional law firms, offering clients the best possible service and drawing on the best legal expertise”.

James Beatton, one of the founders of Vertex Law, said: “We believe this is a game changer."

“The merged firm will have a leading position in the Kent marketplace as well as an increased reach across London and the South East offering a cost effective legal service to all types of business regionally and in the national marketplace”.

This year’s Kent & Medway Legal Sector Review named Vertex Law the county’s number one ‘rising star’ among law firms, predicting ‘great things in 2013’, while Cripps Harries Hall was described as a 'powerhouse' and that it was ‘hard to see how any other firm could challenge it' regionally.

Both firms will continue to trade under their own names pending full integration of the two businesses.