In brief: Scatcherd & Co links up with Kirbys

Harrogate firm Kirbys has taken over Scatcherd & Co, a local private client law firm. Scatcherd & Co's sole principal, David Hopkins, has joined Kirbys as a consultant and his staff have moved to Kirbys' offices. Kirbys partner Mark Hutchinson said he believed that the practice now had the strongest private client department in Harrogate. Hutchinson added: "We feel that it is a further demonstration of Kirbys' determination to offer local people the very best specialist legal advice without the need to travel outside Harrogate."