Wilkins Kennedy has joined forces with Baldwins, part of CogitalGroup, to create a new division covering the south of England. William Payne, senior partner of Wilkins Kennedy, will take a seat on the Baldwins board and the firm will retain its name, operating as “Wilkins Kennedy, a Cogital Company”. The merger will not affect any of the firm’s offices, but will complement Baldwins’ presence in the Midlands, the North and Scotland to create a combined firm with 83 offices throughout the UK. Both firms share the same culture and ethos and specialise in the SME sector. William Payne said: “For our clients, it will be a case of business as usual. This merger strengthens our expertise and gives us a national presence.”