DWF confirms takeover of Newcastle firm Crutes
North West firm DWF is set to merge with Newcastle firm Crutes, with the latter being incorporated into DWF on 1 January 2012.
Andrew Leaitherland
The takeover will make DWF an £88m firm. Crutes is a £5m firm with 16 partners across three offices. The firm specialises in insurance, with supporting commercial and private client teams.
The move follows DWF’s announcement in May that it intended to launch a full-service practice in Newcastle after hiring Dickinson Dees partner John Flynn as executive partner (6 May 2011).
In a statement DWF managing partner Andrew Leaitherland said: “Crutes is a natural fit, its outstanding insurance credentials combined with its sector strengths align very clearly with our own. Our combined strengths mean we will have an enhanced offering for businesses across the North East.
“We’re committed to growth and investment in the region and see it as a key area for expansion over the next few years. The North East is a dynamic marketplace with plenty of opportunities.”
In July DWF announced that it was launching a Birmingham office after hiring Shoosmiths’ head of finance (28 July 2011). DWF’s turnover rose 15 per cent in the 2010-11 financial year (30 June 2011) to £83m.
At the half-year stage for 2011-12 turnover increased 15 per cent compared with the same period in 2010-11, to £45m (10 November 2011).
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Readers' comments (38)
Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 3:45 pm
Great news for legal services in the North East.
Terrible news for the partners at Dixon Dees. Realistically their hopes of a merger with a big firm are now in tatters.
I guess they might still be able to eek out a merger with a faded firm like Watson Burton or, if they're lucky, a small acquisitive group like Shakespears, but nobody with a big name.
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Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 3:52 pm
The headline is wrong - Crutes have taken over DWF.
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Phil Mann | 25-Nov-2011 4:05 pm
The rumour that Crutes is based in Gateshead is very much wrong.
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Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 4:07 pm
It feels like 2am in a teen nightclub; everyone is pairing off.
Pretty much all the well run businesses have now conglomerated.
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Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 4:15 pm
Slam dunk!
Party time at Crutes. They must be elated to now be one of the biggest names in the North East legal market.
This must be like being slapped in the face by a fish for Dickie Dees. After posting poor results for the last two years and now being overlooked for a merger, I wouldn't be surprised to see their partners giving up on capitalism and pitching up their grubby tents beneath the Monument.
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TheLawMap | 25-Nov-2011 4:27 pm
Crutes are from Gateshead but I think in this age of austerity we really need to look at such mergers positively as it spells of success rather than failure. Best wishes to the new firm from ThelawMap.com
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Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 4:28 pm
I'm guessing a lot of people will be calling Rec Cons and writing their CVs this weekend.
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Crutes Staff Member | 25-Nov-2011 4:29 pm
I think you'll find NE1 is a Newcastle postcode. We are in Newcastle, Teesside and Carlisle.
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Anonymous | 25-Nov-2011 5:01 pm
I thought they would go for Muckle. They've really done an excellent job of picking off the best partners, associates and assistants in the last 18 months.
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Crutes Staff Member | 25-Nov-2011 5:19 pm
I think you'll find that Crutes office is nowhere near Gateshead. Has no one heard of Google Maps! Look it up people! NE1 8ND
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