Collas Day in Guernsey and Crill Canavan in Jersey are to merge in the spring of 2011.

The combined law firms will be know as Collas Crill.

The combined firm creates a new 15 partner Channel Island firm.

The merger is intended to build on the strengths each firm has, in particular corporate and banking, investment funds, property, trusts and dispute resolution.

Collas Day’s associated fiduciary business, the Guernsey Trust Company, will continue to service the Guernsey market. Collas Day IP Management will become Collas Crill IP Management, and Collas Day’s London office will support the combined legal practices.

Chris Bound, Collas Day’s senior partner, says: “This isn’t just good news for each individual firm, but for the Channel Islands as a whole. Together we will service clients in the Channel Islands, the UK and internationally – including the increasingly important Asian market – and will raise awareness of our services and our jurisdictions in international legal markets.”