Top 50 U.K. firm and insurance specialist Keoghs has become the latest outfit to launch in Northern Ireland.

The firm is set to merge with Belfast-based firm Caldwell Warner later this year, handing it its first base in the country.

Caldwell Warner is an insurance specialist boutique and consists of one partner, three lawyers, one paralegal and five support staff.

The move is the latest acquisition by Keoghs, which bought rival Hill Dickinson's £23 million insurance business last year.

That deal gave Keoghs further headcount across its London and Manchester offices, and also granted Keoghs an office in Liverpool, where it sublets space from Hill Dickinson.

Last year, Keoghs reported revenue of £78.1m.

Keoghs chief executive officer John Whittle said in a statement: "Expanding into Northern Ireland represents another key step towards our strategic mission of becoming the preeminent law firm to the U.K. insurance sector."

The firm is the latest in recent years to expand into Belfast via a local firm merger.

Earlier this year, DAC Beachcroft took over its Belfast-based alliance firm McKinty and Wright.

Meanwhile, in 2017 Keystone Law merged with Belfast law firm McMahon McKay and Fieldfisher secured a tie-up with local legal consultancy Donaldson Legal Consulting.