Scottish law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing has swallowed specialist maritime practice Holmes Hardingham to bolster its position in the lucrative London shipping sector.

The move will see it combined with niche shipping firm Shaw and Croft, which HBJ Gateley took over last year, and its specialist teams in Edinburgh in Dubai to create a 26-strong team.

This includes six Holmes Hardingham partners, who will join HBJ Gateley on June 2, five as partners and one as a consultant.

They will continue to operate under the name Holmes Hardingham as a division of HBJ Gateley.

Malcolm McPherson, HBJ Gateley senior partner, said: "This provides a significant opportunity to offer an integrated, high-quality legal service in shipping, aviation, road transport and logistics to meet the demands of our growing global client base."

HBJ Gateley has rapidly expanded south of the border in recent years, doubling the size of its London office to 28 fee-earners in the last 12 months, although 42 of its 81 partners are located in Scotland.

Clients of 19-year-old Holmes Hardingham include ship and yacht owners, hull and cargo underwriters, general commercial insurers, oil companies, trade associations and inspection organisations.

HBJ Gateley has also been expanding its Glasgow operation recently, growing it from one partner and nine fee-earners to 14 partners and 71 fee-earners today.

It hit the headlines last year after police recovered a missing Leonardo painting belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch from its West Regent Street offices.