Kaye quits before firms merge

MULTI-MEDIA specialist Laurence Kaye has jumped ship weeks before the merger of commercial firms Forsyte Kerman and Saunders Sobell Leigh & Dobin. He has joined The Simkins Partnership.

Kaye, a founding partner of Saunders Sobell's commercial department in 1980, will play a key role in shaping the future of The Simkins Partnership's expanding multi-media section.

He specialises in electronic publishing, multi-media and intellectual property law, and has acted as lobbyist at the European Commission for the European Publisher's Council. He was articled and became a partner at Brecher & Co.

"I am delighted to be joining a firm with a specific focus on media and intellectual property work," he says.

The Simkins Partnership's joint managing partner, Nigel Bennett, says that although the firm is best known for its entertainment work, it plans to move into the business information and education sectors via the new media of cable, satellite and interactive compact disc.

Saunders Sobell's senior partner Brian Sobell says the merger on 1 December, forming Forsyte Saunders Kerman, will not initially create opportunities specialising in media or intellectual property law.

"Laurence did not think that joining the new firm would be the right career move," Sobell says. "I can understand the view he took. It was an amicable move."

It is believed that a further Saunders Sobell partner, Harold Shupak, will also not be joining the merged firm.

Alan Kaufman, managing partner of the future Forsyte Saunders Kerman, says that some restructuring decisions are still to be taken before the new practice opens.