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).
View results 10 per page | 20 per page | 50 per page
Readers' comments (38)
Anonymous | 26-Nov-2011 9:09 am
Not surprising that a big firm has swooped.
Newcastle has some brilliant law firms with many adept lawyers. Eversheds, Muckle, Dickie Dees and even Watson Burton have some specialists right at the top of their game.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 26-Nov-2011 9:18 am
I'm not convinced that Ward Hadaway, Muckle or Dickie Dees are angling for a merger. I think they have strong business models on their own and don't need to risk the unknowns of partnering up.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 26-Nov-2011 9:21 am
PS Crutes are based in NE1, why though would it have mattered if this excellent firm had been in Gateshead?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 26-Nov-2011 12:09 pm
Anyone else find the Gateshead stuff strange?
Well done to both parties, I'm sure lots of work has gone into this partnership.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 26-Nov-2011 2:00 pm
DD partners are hardly quaking in their boots over this. Sure, it will bring challenges to the whole NE market, but it's not as though come 1 Jan 2012, a thousand DWF lawyers will descend on Newcastle. There'll still only be the few they had before plus Crutes' staff (before DWF close Carlisle, which is inevitable). It'll take years before they close in on DD, and their current specialisms (insurance litigation and defendant PI and clinical neg) are not undertaken in any serious way by DD. It's Ward Hadaway and Watson Burton who are really in trouble over this.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 27-Nov-2011 6:51 pm
The main Crutes office is definitely in Newcastle (by Haymarket).
Crutes are really popular in Newcastle. However now they're going to be challenging the big 3, I expect the other firms won't be so generous with their praise.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 28-Nov-2011 7:42 am
Good times. Wonder if DWF intend to manage with that small team or if they'll start hiring?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 28-Nov-2011 6:04 pm
DWF's aggressive take over strategy epitomises their hunger for expansion and profits......seemingly above all else....... but Customer care HAS to go hand in hand....................for a truly successful company.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment