The Melbourne arm of  Dibbs Abbott Stillman has merged with Thomson Playford Cutlers. The resulting firm, which will operate under the Thomson Playford Cutlers name, will have 49 partners across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

"Thomson Playford Cutlers has been servicing Victorian clients for some time on a fly-in, fly-out basis, but this merger with Dibbs Abbott Stillman Melbourne gives us a permanent presence in what is obviously a key market for corporate legal services," said chief executive Brett Goodridge.

Thomson Playford Cutlers was named Adelaide firm of the year at the 2008 ALB Australasian Law Awards. The merger will come into effect on 1 March 2009.