LAW firm Blackett Hart and Pratt (BHP) has expanded its presence in the region after joining forces with smaller rival James and Baker.

The merger with the Thornaby-based firm gives BHP its first base on Teesside to complement its offices in Darlington, Durham and Newcastle.

Andrew James and Richard Baker, partners in James and Baker since 2001, have joined BHP as partners and all 24 staff at the practice, including Mr James' daughter Helen Wood, have also transferred.

John Pratt, BHP managing partner, said: "We are very excited about this merger with James and Baker which is a very well-known and highly regarded practice in the area.

"We already have a number of mutual clients and our teams have worked together previously, so this is an obvious fit for both firms.

"Teesside is an area where we believe there is potential for significant growth for BHP and this is a first step in that development. While our divisions of business and company law, commercial property and planning and design are flourishing, this merger with James and Baker demonstrates our continued commitment to private clients and will bring further benefits to the services we can offer people on Teesside."

James and Baker specialises in residential and commercial conveyancing, matrimonial services, employment law and wills and probate.

Mr James said: "Merging with Blackett Hart and Pratt is about the future and was an opportunity for us to move forward in the interests of both our staff and our clients. Our staff will be part of a bigger and growing organisation and our clients will have access to a broader range of services, such as business and company law, town and country planning and financial services, that we can now offer being a much larger practice."

Mr James and Mr Baker were partners at O'Rourkes solicitors before setting up their own practice six years ago.

Mr James, whose father Leslie James worked as a sub-editor on The Northern Echo in the 1940s, moved to the Thornaby office in 1965 and was joined by Mr James ten years later.

Last year, BHP merged with Newcastle city firms Harvey and Marron and Anderson Haggie. The latest merger brings the total number of staff at BHP to more than 200, including 28 partners.