Job was 'mistake' says ex-Eversheds tax head

EVERSHEDS' head of tax Reg Nock has left after just eight months, branding his appointment "a mistake".

The revelation is accompanied by mounting speculation that the firm is planning to merge with a Scottish firm.

Nock joined Eversheds in June, having previously written legal tax publications at Deloitte & Touche. He left abruptly on 23 February.

Nock is also a qualified barrister.

Peter Scott, managing partner at Eversheds, ref-used to comment on the reasons why Nock left, or whether he served a notice period.

Nock says he resigned and left on the same day. "It was a big mistake on both our parts. Both sides decided to cut their losses and end it."

Meanwhile, a number of sources have named both Burness and McClure Naismith as possible merger partners.

A source says Eversheds has approached a number of medium-sized Scottish firms. "I would question the economics of a move. It is an expensive exercise to open an office without a client basis.

"Burness would be a big bite to swallow."

Twenty-five partner Burness is recognised as a strong corporate firm. It opened offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow last year, changing its name from W&J Burness WS to Burness.

Kenneth Ross, managing partner at Burness, dismissed a merger with the national firm. "We are not in merger discussions with Eversheds - we deal with them in joint ventures."

However, Ross would not rule out the possibility of a merger in the future. "We would consider anything. We are pleased with the way things are going at the moment, and we are not complacent."

A spokeswoman for Eversheds says: "We have no current plans to merge with a Scottish firm."

McClure Naismith was unavailable for comment.