UK law firms Shakespeares and SGH Martineau have confirmed that they will merge on 15 June, with the pair aiming to create a top 50 UK firm with a fee income of more than £75m.

The combined firm, Shakespeare Martineau, will have approximately 900 members of staff, including 150 partners.

Merger talks between the firms began in March after Andy Raynor took over from Paul Wilson as Shakespeares chief executive on 22 January.

Raynor said Shakespeare Martineau would have a "strong commercial personality".

He added: "The merger demonstrates the commitment of both firms to grow and keep ahead of a rapidly changing and vibrant marketplace."

Martineau has offices in Birmingham, London and Brussels. Shakespeares has multiple Midlands bases, including Nottingham and Birmingham, as well as an office in London.

In 2011 Martineau merged with London's Sprecher Grier Halberstam to ramp up its presence in the UK capital. In the same year, it also opened in Brussels as part of a strategic collaboration with German firm Becker Buettner Held.

Shakespeares also merged in 2011 with Solihull-based Wood Glaister Solicitors, which continues to trade under its original name.