Eversheds corporate team in Mills & Reeve defection

Eversheds' corporate team in Norwich has quit for local rival Mills & Reeve.

The team is led by Eversheds senior partner for the East of England Terry Gould. Joining him are corporate partners Craig Hodgson and Andrew Croome and property partner Keith Hamilton.

Just three months ago, when Eversheds' local private client team quit for Birketts, Gould vowed: "As we implement our strategic plan to drive the firm forward, we've decided to focus the Norwich office on its core practices, including the unmatched corporate, real estate and HR teams we have in the region."

It is understood that the Mills & Reeve negotiations began soon after, when Gould realised that, while he could service Eversheds' national clients in Norwich, the team's local clients needed a full-service local firm.

Eversheds managing partner for London and the South East Michael Brown reaffirmed his firm's commitment to the region by promising £500,000 to refurbish the Norwich office. The firm is left with eight partners in real estate, planning, HR and financial services.