Dibbs partners in private client split

Dibb Lupton Broomhead has shed its private client department, paving the way for partners to establish a new Yorkshire firm focusing exclusively on private client work.

Wrigleys opened offices in Leeds and Sheffield this month, where it will handle trusts, charities, tax planning, estates and heritage property.

The firm was founded by Dibbs partners Matthew Wrig-ley and Ann Duchart and joined by lawyers and support staff from the private client department.

Wrigley said there were opportunities for regional firms to handle private client work which larger firms were not interested in. "It was recognised that a successful private client practice had different priorities from a progressive commercial law firm," he said. "Wrigleys will be able to concentrate on the personal service which we believe private clients want.

"Masses of clients who have traditionally used London firms are leaving them and the small, local general practice firms simply can't do the highly complicated work."

Wrigley, who heads the Leeds office, is joined by assistants Julia Boyes and Joe Hall, and part-time consultant Andrew Wade. Duchart heads the Sheffield office, with assistant Peter Clarkson and part-time consultant Martin Lee.

Dibbs managing partner Nigel Knowles said the split was amicable. "We will continue to feed work back and forth between us," he said.