North East firm Dickinson Dees and South West firm Bond Pearce are discussing a potential merger which would catapult the combined firm into the UK’s top 40.
The firms confirmed the talks today. The news comes six months after Bond Pearce ended merger discussions with Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens (14 March 2012), citing commercial reasons.
In a statement Dickinson Dees’ managing partner Jonathan Blair said: “Our strategies, cultures, sector capabilities and geographic footprints appear to be sufficiently complementary as to warrant consideration of whether, in a rapidly consolidating market, a merger of our two firms would facilitate the execution of their respective strategies.”
“Both Bond Pearce and Dickinson Dees have clearly articulated strategies. By merging the two firms we could take a major step towards fulfilling our longer term strategic goals, implementing now a client and values driven merger to create a firm in the top 30 in the UK capable of delivering the strength in depth and specialist skills required by our clients, be they large corporates, major organisations or high net worth individuals. It is that opportunity that we now wish to explore,” added Bond Pearce’s managing partner Victor Tettmar.
Both firms recorded turnover of £46m in 2011-12. Dickinson Dees’ revenue hit £46.1m, a slight increase on the previous year (16 May 2012), with average profit per equity partner (PEP) of £235,000. Bond Pearce’s turnover was £46.5m, also with PEP of £235,000.
The combined firm would have 125 partners and more than 450 lawyers.
Bond Pearce has offices in Aberdeen, Bristol, London, Plymouth and Southampton. Dickinson Dees, meanwhile, has two Newcastle offices and one in the Tees Valley, as well as bases in Leeds and London. It closed down its York office in June last year, transferring all staff to Leeds (29 June 2011).
Blair told The Lawyer that while the firms had agreed not to make further comment, the talks had reached the stage where the firms were building a business case and this was “making sense”. He added that the discussions were still in very early stages and due diligence had not yet begun.
Readers' comments (52)
Anonymous | 18-Sep-2012 10:41 am
The Roll on Friday national staff survey (in which Dickie Dees came last) highlighted both a lack of meritocracy & favouritism as problems which undermine Dickie Dees. To hear that Bond Pearce also suffers these problems should set off alarm bells.
I'm sure all the managing partners are terrific. However it looks like both firms have far too many partners who are just coasting along. Someone has to clear them out for this new firm to really progress up the rankings. PEP of £225k will look pathetic in comparison with other top 40 firms. I can't see the clear out happening though: turkeys won't vote for Christmas.
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Anonymous | 21-Sep-2012 1:12 pm
I have no idea whether it is the case or not, but it would be nice to think that there might be a group of people who think that they would like to be a national firm of good reputation, earn the not inconsiderable sum of £225k a year, and go home at 5 most days and not work every weekend. Perhaps it isn't the case here, but I have never understood why it is a good thing to sell your soul to the firm for £1m a year, when you could have a life and live it very nicely indeed on half a million a year (or £225k).
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Anonymous | 21-Sep-2012 3:41 pm
Anon 1.12pm,
I think there are plenty of people who are happy doing that. However if you think these two firms are full of those kind of people, then you're sadly mistaken.
My experience of these people has been that they talk loudly about how good they are ("leading law firm") and pretend they're the best of the best ("we can provide a service that is equal to or better than most major City of London law firms"), when they're distinctly average.
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Anonymous | 22-Sep-2012 9:37 am
Heh - told today that senior figures at Dickie Dees are telling stakeholders that this is very much "a take over".
Very disrespectful. However I guess we'll see whether it is a take over by the name adopted (my guess BPD) by the new firm and where the HQ is located (my guess Bristol).
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Anonymous | 24-Sep-2012 10:08 am
I worked at Dickinson Dees and they were quite good at that time.
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Anonymous | 24-Sep-2012 1:38 pm
I am a former Dickinson Dees partner who left of my own volition. I retain huge respect for the firm and many of its partner. Some of these posts are bizarre.
The leadership of Dickinson Dees recognise that the current status quo is unsustainable. They have found a potential equal partner (had they chosen a larger firm they would be crticised for allowing the firm to be taken over and had they chosen a smaller firm they would have been unambitious).
The fact both firms have ambitions to move forward with a genuine national footprint with a greater London presence appears good business logic. I am unsure what the critics want of these firms - is that they both slowly diminish in stature so they can continue to make negative posts or could it be that they are actually are with competitors who know these firms are well lead and fear that they are going to provide formidable competition. Either way if you have nothing positive to contribute perhaps you should reflect on how you are spending your time.
Personally I wish both firms well - brave decisions are not always easy decisions and I hope time will show the critics to have been misinformed.
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Anonymous | 24-Sep-2012 5:49 pm
I currently work at DD and I can confirm that the management have been at pains to inform staff of what's going on, and to confirm this is very much a merger of equals. Personally, I think it's excellent news, as the firms are good fits work-wise, financially and geographically. They have similar cultures and aims. This prevents either firm being swallowed up by some large, bland megafirm and secures jobs. As for letting the cat out of the bag early, the firms have been in talks for nearly a year - hardly a sign of rushing into a marriage of convenience!
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Anonymous | 25-Sep-2012 10:08 am
As you say the two firms have been talking for a year so it's very intriguing that in the last paragraph of the article, Jonathan Blair says the talks are at "a very early stage and due diligence has not yet begun". Also, it means that Dickinson Dees would presumably have been party to negotiations with Maclay, Murray and Spens (as they ended 6 months ago). Interesting. All the very best with the new firm. Exciting times! Now more information is in the press, I think this is a smart move in a tricky market.
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Anonymous | 21-Oct-2012 11:16 pm
There's been flirting for a year, and things got more serious when the talks with MMS collapsed, mainly due to a clash of cultures. DD was also talking to other parties. Both firms have realised that organic growth is not enough. They're a good fit for each other and the merger is good news for both firms, meaning neither gets taken over on someone else's terms.
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Anonymous | 10-Nov-2012 5:06 am
Any further news on whether Bond Pearce Dickinson is going to happen?
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