Lambeth law firm, Steel & Shamash and Edward Duthie combine to form legal aid colossus

Law firms combine to form legal aid colossus

Two law firms have merged to establish one of the largest companies in the country focusing on legal aid.

The Lambeth firm, Steel & Shamash, are celebrating 30 years as the solicitors of the Labour Party and 40 years specialising in electoral law.

Their expertise has led them to be recommended by the legal directories Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.

And yesterday, the firm joined forces with Edward Duthie, based in Ilford to create the amalgamated corporation, Edwards Duthie Shamash.

This hybrid firm will have 19 partners, 140 employees and seven offices across London.

Steel & Shamash founder Gerald Shamash (pictured above) said: “Both partnerships are strong and well-established separately, but the merger will allow us to grow at a fitting moment in our histories, the 70th anniversary of legal aid.”

And the senior partner at Edwards Duthie, Shaun Murphy, said: “Our combined firm will achieve significant economies of scale, which will help maintain its strengths while offering a wider range of expertise to clients.”