Regional firms Blake Lapthorn, Morgan Cole and Boyes Turner are in merger talks, RollOnFriday understands.

They are rumoured to be in tripartite discussions to form a single new firm. If true, the result could be interesting. Blake Lapthorn, the daddy of the trio with 90 partners and 300 lawyers, has offices in Southampton, Portsmouth, Oxford and London. If it joined forces with 50-partner Morgan Cole, which also has an office in Oxford plus branches in Swansea, Cardiff, Reading and Bristol, and with Reading-based Boyes Turner, the new firm would have a hefty presence in the South.

Pictured: Somewhere in the South right now

None of the firms were prepared to comment. Hopefully more details will spill out over the next few days. If so, read more on Friday.