HBJ expands with shipping merger

HBJ Gatelely Wareing is poised to merge with niche shipping and transport firm Holmes Hardingham in a bid to expand its contentious shipping and road transport offering.

The new shipping and transport practice will account for around 10 per cent of HBJ's total turnover. Under a Memorandum of Understanding inked between the two firms, six Holmes Hardingham partners and five other fee-earners will join the 15-strong HBJ team from 2 June.

Holmes Hardingham chairman Adrian Hardingham will continue to manage his partners and will oversee the contentious side of the business, HBJ partner Richard Coles will manage the non-contentious division, which includes superyacht and shipping finance.