Shakespeares has launched redundancy consultations with 54 staff and announced plans to close three offices in the wake of the firm's merger with Harvey Ingram.

The Midlands firm said the merger, which went live on 1 September, had led to duplication, putting 13 lawyers and 41 back office staff at risk of redundancy.

The consultation includes 11 roles in the Bedford, Shipston on Stour and Moreton in Marsh offices, which along with the redundancy consultation are due to close at the end of September.

Many of the lawyers and some of the staff in these locations will transfer to the local offices nearby at Stratford upon Avon or Milton Keynes. The remaining redundancies will be spread across the firm's Leicester, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Solihull, Nottingham and Newport Pagnell offices.

In addition to these changes, the merged firm has decided to divest its criminal legal aid practice, which has been operating from the former Harvey Ingram Borneos' offices at Milton Keynes and Bedford. As a result of this decision, 13 former employees are setting up an independent business called PS Law LLP, led by Praveen Saigal.

Following the changes Shakespeares will have 737 lawyers and staff operating from seven UK bases, with all bar Leicester to trade under the Shakespeares brand name. The Leicester base will operate as Harvey Ingram Shakespeares for at least 12 months.

Chief executive Paul Wilson (pictured) said: "While we very much regret that redundancies are necessary, much is being done, as part of the consultation, to offer people potential opportunities across the firm as we reshape the business and close three of our smaller offices.

"In line with changes in our industry, economies of scale from our merger and the prevailing market conditions have led us to make efficiencies in our back office areas.

"The changes we are announcing will help to consolidate our market position and create a strong platform from which we can continue to expand the business and strengthen our Midlands-wide team of experts. In particular, divesting the criminal legal aid practice is a logical move as it is not a good strategic fit with our core business which is focused on commercial businesses, public sector and high-net-worth private client services."

Harvey Ingram and Shakespeares had a combined turnover of £48.7m in 2011-12 and net profit of £11.7m putting PEP at about £200,000.