Philip Sapsford QC's Goldsmith Chambers and No 1 Dr Johnson's Buildings have confirmed they are to merge on the 24 June. The two sets combined will have more than 60 tenants covering civil, criminal and family law.

The set is also negotiating to take on tenants from neighbouring set Goldsmith Building (13 June, Legal Week), which recently lost 16 barristers to Hardwicke Building.

Former 10 King's Bench Walk criminal and administrative law specialist Alper Riza QC is to join the merged set.

A spokesman for Goldsmith's Chambers said: "Over the past 18 months we have been reviewing our strategic direction."

"It has become apparent that there is still a strong professional need for chambers to provide a full service, as opposed to the trend of other chambers providing expertise in restricted specialist areas," he added.

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