Exodus of Leeds construction team adds to Hammonds' woes

Hammonds is losing a construction team to rival Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds.

The team includes two equity partners and three fixed-share equity partners who handed in their resignations on Friday (25 February). These are national construction head Simon Palmer as well as fellow partners Mark Hilton, John Emerton, Andrew MacCuish and Jonathan Tattersall.

It is understood that a number of associates could follow them to Addleshaws, but no resignations have been tendered.

For Hammonds the losses deal a further blow to the firm’s national construction practice, which has lost six partners since last summer. Most recently Nigel Proctor, the Manchester head of private finance initiatives (PFI) and public private partnerships (PPP), announced he was leaving – also for Addleshaws.

Addleshaws’ managing partner Mark Jones said the hires were in tune with the firm’s strategy for growth.

He added: “When we had the opportunity to hire the leading contentious construction practice in Yorkshire and Humberside we were very interested.”

Hammonds said that Manchester partner David Moss is taking over as construction head.

In a statement, Hammonds’ managing partner Peter Crossley said that the vast majority of the firm’s partners remain fully committed and have indicated their wish to remain at the firm.