Bermuda-based Appleby and Dickinson Cruickshank of the Isle of Man are set to merge, forming the world's largest offshore law firm.

Appleby announced the deal yesterday, which is due to become effective from October 1 and will see the company expand its global market with the acquisition of the Isle of Man's largest law firm.

The firm will continue to be called Appleby and will become the largest offshore law firm by number of partners with the widest jurisdictional reach.

It will have 73 partners and 200 lawyers, with a total of more than 800 staff in nine offices worldwide, including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Mauritius, Hong Kong, London, Zurich and now the Isle of Man.

Dickinson Cruickshank is the largest and one of the longest established firms of advocates on the Isle of Man. Founded in 1899, it is now one of the two main law firms on the island, with 11 partners, 27 other lawyers, 17 fiduciary service providers and a total staff of 119. It is a full service firm practising Isle of Man law with a focus on corporate and commercial, private client, dispute resolution, property and fiduciary services. The firm has been consistently in the top ranking in the major international legal directories and has twice been nominated as "Offshore law firm of the Year".

Shaun Morris, managing partner of Appleby's Bermuda office, said: "We see the merger with a firm of the size and quality of Dickinson Cruickshank as a significant opportunity for us.

"Dickinson Cruickshank's focus on their clients' needs, their appreciation of the value of having a broad depth and breadth of resources across multiple jurisdictions aligns with our own strategic thinking.

"The merger strengthens our capability to provide multiple solutions to our multi-jurisdictional client base. In addition, we believe that the move will solidify Appleby's position as the first choice for clients in the offshore sector."

Mr. Morris said the idea behind the expansion into another top offshore financial centre was part of Appleby's strategy to increase the company's geographical footprint and offer the best value for its clients.

He revealed his firm had been in negotiations with Dickinson Cruickshank for the past six to nine months and would be looking to expand the operation in the Isle of Man following completion of the merger.

And Mr. Morris added that the benefits of having a base in the Isle of Man were clear - from being located in a fast growing offshore financial jurisdiction to being able to take advantage of a well-regulated environment which is on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 'white list'.

Paul Morris, Dickinson Cruickshank's senior partner, said: "We believe that the merger with Appleby, as a global offshore services provider, is not only a first on the island and an invaluable resource for our clients, but it will also provide a huge boost to the Isle of Man's capabilities, status and reputation in the international offshore sector.

"Appleby's global reach in the key offshore jurisdictions, its recent expansion through Mauritius into the emerging markets in India, Africa and Asia, and its market leading position in international financial centres, will have a significant impact on the breadth, range and choice of services we are able to offer to our Isle of Man and international clients."

The merger follows Appleby's opening of a new office in Mauritius in 2008 and in Zurich earlier this year, offering access to a range of offshore centres for private bank and institutional clients in Switzerland.

Appleby, which has a workforce of approximately 800, first branched out from its Bermuda origins in 1979, with the setting up of a Guernsey office for administration clients, and this latest merger represents part of a 30-year development of the firm.