Listed law firm Gateley has acquired a Belfast-based reputation management and media law firm in an effort to strengthen its position in the country's professional services market.

The £2 million acquisition of Paul Tweed expands Gateley's local operations, which already includes Belfast-based tax advice service Gateley Capitus. All 12 members of the team have stayed on, including partners Paul Tweed and Selina Kerins.

In a statement, Gateley CEO Michael Ward said the firm had considered expanding into the Irish market for "some time".

"We see this move as a springboard for developing a strong legal services offering in Ireland as well as supporting our growth plans for Gateley Capitus, which was our first transaction as a PLC in 2016 and is already well established in Belfast."

It is likely to be one of the last such moves of Ward's tenure. He will be replaced by Rod Waldie on May 1.

Other firms have been breaking into the Northern Ireland market recently, with Shoosmiths growing its office space in the region and U.K. top 50 insurance specialist Keoghs announcing its launch in the region in May.