Expansive northwest firm DWF has sealed a deal to acquire Newcastle stalwart Crutes in the New Year.

DWF will merge with Crutes, an insurance specialist with annual revenues of more than £5m, on 1 January 2012. The law firm employs 95 people, including 16 partners and has offices in Newcastle, Carlisle and Stockton on Tees.

Commenting on the deal, DWF managing partner Andrew Leaitherhead told Legal Week: "Crutes is the right balance for us in terms of its public sector and insurance focus and it is a good fit in terms of our strategy to grow in the Northeast. The Northeast is a dynamic marketplace with a lot of opportunities and this will give us more depth and a greater reach to tap into them."