Dallas Brett partner joins BrookStreet

One of the partners from Oxford firm Dallas Brett, which announced its dissolution last month, is joining Witney firm BrookStreet Des Roches this week.

Property, planning and environment partner Richard Smith will join the firm with his assistant and his clients.

He follows two other former Dallas Brett partners to the firm.

In May, property partners Charlie Seaward and Hugh Blaza jumped ship, after Dallas Brett made a strategic decision to concentrate on IP work.

The strategy ran into trouble when Dallas Brett's three IP partners agreed to join London firm Rouse & Co, prompting the remaining partners to dissolve the 15-year-old practice.

Dallas Brett commercial litigator Andrew Shaw and aviation specialist Glenvil Smith are continuing in a new practice, while managing partner and leading corporate finance specialist Jonathan Loake is going to Oxford firm Cole & Cole.

Meanwhile BrookStreet, which was founded three years ago by two partners who left Oxford firm Linnells, has also recruited Paddy Gregan, the head of company commercial at Linnells, and a leading partnership lawyer.