Grant Thornton and DAP join forces to form specialist group

LEGAL consultants The David Andrews Partnership (DAP) has merged with national firm Grant Thornton (GT) to form what may be the largest specialist consultancy for the legal profession.

DAP chair David Andrews will head the new practice, which will continue to use his name. He becomes a Grant Thornton partner.

Michael Rogerson, head of GT's legal business services group, says his firm has acted for over 150 solicitors' practices. DAP has advised over 200 law firms since its formation in 1987.

The new DAP will have a core team of 14 full-time legal specialists, four of whom are lawyers, based in London, Leeds and Manchester. But in each of GT's 46 offices there will be a person designated to handle legal sector enquiries, says Rogerson.

Andrews says the decision to merge followed a long period of consideration by the three partners about remaining independent.

"We reached the conclusion we could not meet the needs of the market nor our aspirations if we did."

The partnership needed greater resources than it could generate organically.

The new practice will be able to cover a wider market including the public sector and corporate in-house departments, as well as chambers.

The GT practice has been stronger in the North and complements DAP's more southern ased clients.

DAP wants to expand the work it does in the US, Australia and in Europe.