The combined businesses – which will trade under the Aberdein Considine brand – will together employ over 480 staff and have a turnover of more than £32 million.

Russel+Aitken Edinburgh LLP, which is based in the west end of the city, has a long and distinguished heritage, tracing its roots back to the 1800s.

The firm provides a wide range of legal services, with a particular focus on residential property and estate agency, and private client services, as well as dispute resolution. In addition, RA Direct, the firm’s lender services division, also serves multiple UK lenders in a number of areas including Volume conveyancing, remortgages, secured loans and further advances.

Following the merger, all of Russel+Aitken Edinburgh’s staff will transfer to Aberdein Considine and will be based in the firm’s Edinburgh offices in Multrees Walk, Elm Row and Lothian Road.

Russel+Aitken Edinburgh’s two equity partners, Dianne Paterson and Alan Jones, will join Aberdein Considine as consultants.

Aberdein Considine managing partner Jacqueline Law, said: “Russel+Aitken Edinburgh LLP is an incredibly well-respected firm, with a loyal client bank. Dianne Paterson has served clients in a professional and caring manner over a long and successful career.

“As managing partner of Russel+Aitken Edinburgh LLP, and a former ESPC director, she has also built around her a hardworking, loyal and client focussed team. The values of Russel+Aitken Edinburgh LLP are very closely aligned with those of Aberdein Considine.”

She added: “We feel a sense of pride that Dianne Paterson and Alan Jones have chosen Aberdein Considine to continue the Russel+Aitken Edinburgh promise of delivering the best legal service possible to every client. Whilst many medium sized firms continue to choose to go down the commercial route, our strategic plan is to remain a full service law firm and to strengthen our teams and service offering in Central Scotland.”

Ms Paterson added: “We are excited to be joining forces with a firm of Aberdein Considine’s calibre. We are looking forward to strengthening and expanding the legal services available to our existing clients, and to participating in Aberdein Considine’s vision for the service they provide in Edinburgh and Central Scotland.

“We view this as a coming together of two like-minded firms, and see a strong future ahead of us. We welcome the opportunity to offer additional in-house services to our loyal clients, and will be pleased to help to link our clients to the expertise available in one of Scotland’s largest and best-known legal firms.”