Foot Anstey growth plan prompts Alms marriage” />South West firm Foot Anstey Sargent is to merge with Somerset-based Alms & Young on 1 May this year.
The merger will give Foot Anstey its first footprint in Somerset as part of a planned expansion programme designed eventually to double the firm’s size.
The combined firm, to be known as Foot Anstey, will have 31 partners and more than 270 fee-earners and staff based in four South West offices.
Foot Anstey currently offers a broad range of services, from corporate law to private client, crime, family and legal aid work.
Its corporate practice accounts for more than 50 per cent of its £10.6m turnover, and the merger with Alms will add more strength in the private client and public funding arenas. The predicted annual turnover of the newly merged firm is £12.5m.
As part of the merger agreement, Alms managing partner Neil Scott will join the Foot Anstey management board. Foot Anstey partner Mark Lewis will relocate to Taunton to head a business law team in that office.
Foot Anstey managing partner Jane Lister said: “We want a vibrant, growing firm that serves the needs of this region. We believe our role is to be the major player in the South West.
“We found that their aims and objectives are similar to ours. We’re delighted to be in partnership with them.”
