Eversheds Birmingham turns its back on matrimonial work

The Birmingham office of Eversheds has closed down its matrimonial department. Two practitioners will go to Coldfield firm Benussi & Co while other members will work in other departments at the firm.

Adrian Bland, deputy managing partner, said the move forms part of a three-year management plan: "We are pushing very hard on a number of business initiatives and are very much focusing on commercial practice. Increasingly, family practice didn't sit easily with the things we have been doing."

Andrew Inglis, a partner at Eversheds, will join Midlands niche firm Benussi & Co as a senior practitioner, joined by legal executive Amanda Holland. The rest of the small matrimonial team will be retrained and redeployed at Eversheds.

Although the move reflects a trend within Eversheds nationally to concentrate on commercial and company matters, it does not necessarily foreshadow the closure of matrimonial departments in its other offices, Bland added.

Ian Jollie, managing partner at Eversheds Birmingham office, said: "We've worked together on Andrew's move and wish him success in his new position. Eversheds hope all their existing matrimonial clients will transfer to Benussi & Co."