London-based law firms Seddons and B D Laddie joined forces on 3 October 2016, creating a 33-partner Top 200 UK law firm with significant expertise in areas such as property, private client and family, dispute resolution and employment.

Most recently led by partners Neil Russell and Howard Freeman, B D Laddie has, over its more than 70-year history, established a reputation for excellence in commercial and residential property as well as family law. BD Laddie’s four partners and additional support staff are now part of an expanded, 112-strong Seddons team.

The merger sees B D Laddie’s strength in property and family law complement and further enhance Seddons’ existing expertise in these areas. In addition, it enables B D Laddie’s existing private and commercial clients to benefit from a wider range of legal services spanning commercial and employment law, dispute resolution, and real estate finance, as well as advice on wills, trusts, estate management and probate.

Seddons, which was founded in 1988 as the result of the merger of specialist media practice Woolf Seddon and commercial practice Roscoe Phillips, has evolved over the past two decades into a full-service commercial and private client practice. The firm has added a number of key specialisms and capabilities over the past several years, including the hire last year of a three-strong employment team from Hamlins and the addition of renowned defamation and reputation management lawyer Mark Lewis.

Simon Ross, managing partner of Seddons, commented:

“B D Laddie is a firm we have known, admired and collaborated with for some time, and one which has forged a formidable reputation in the areas of property and family law in particular. Bringing our two firms together is a clear strategic and cultural fit, and I’m confident that the very obvious synergies between the firms will bear significant fruit. Most certainly, our collective clients will continue to receive the partner-led service and top-notch legal advice they have come to value from both firms. We are delighted to welcome the B D Laddie team to Portman Square.”

Neil Russell and Howard Freeman, formerly of BD Laddie and now partners at Seddons, added:

“Joining forces with Seddons was clearly the right fit for our team at B D Laddie, not least because of the match between our cultures and alignment between our areas of expertise. Going forward, we are pleased to offer our clients a far wider range of services and expertise, whilst bringing to bear our significant experience in both property and family law. We look forward to the future with our new partners and colleagues.”