Kennedys raids Halliwells for Sheffield insurance launch
Insurance firm Kennedys is set to launch a Sheffield office after raiding Halliwells for eight partners and a total of 70 staff.
Halliwells’ Sheffield-based insurance team will transfer to Kennedys along with partner David Fearon, who joined the firm in 2004 to launch its construction practice.
Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas (pictured) said: “I can confirm we’re in talks with Halliwells.”
It is understood that the eight partners, including former office head Suzanne Liversidge, resigned earlier this week. Liversidge will lead Kennedys Sheffield venture.
The aim is to transfer the team under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (Tupe), according to a source close to the deal.
In addition to the eight partners, Kennedys will take a staff of 62, which includes 45 lawyers, from Halliwells. It is believed the firm is in negotiations to acquire Halliwells’ Sheffield premises despite Halliwells partners still being based there.
Halliwells denied that talks about the office space are taking place.
The other partners set to join Kennedys are Cameron Clark, Judith Bloor, Helen Snowball, Niall Edwards, Greg Woods and Heidi Swale.
A spokesperson for Halliwells said: “We can confirm that a team of insurance lawyers will be leaving the firm to join Kennedys. Halliwells retains a strong multi-disciplinary practice in Sheffield covering insurance and healthcare, corporate, real estate, employment and construction.”
Halliwells has suffered several partner departures this year. In November Plexus Law took a partner trio from the firm’s Manchester practice to launch its office in the city (9 November 2009).
Mayfair firm Forsters bolstered its tax team with the hire of partner Elizabeth Small (5 October 2009), while DWF took on corporate partners Frank Shepherd and James Sheridan and commercial partner Craig Chaplin, who will launch its Manchester office next year (18 September 2009).
Manches was also in talks to acquire parts of Halliwells, but it is believed that the firm withdrew from talks after its family practice blocked the move (17 September 2009).
Readers' comments (10)
Rural bliss | 18-Dec-2009 4:35 pm
Oh dear, even fewer fee-earners to help pay that whacking Spinningfields rent!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 18-Dec-2009 5:08 pm
This must be a big blow to Haliwells. Management must get a grip of things quickly otherwise this could spiral out of control.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 19-Dec-2009 0:45 am
Not the best news - but the demise of the Sheffield office is being grossly overplayed - Halliwells is still doing very well in Yorks - I don't see many firms making over £80M in the North? A lot of this bad press is simply firms laying into a strong Northern firm?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 19-Dec-2009 5:00 pm
why merge when you can get their good equity partners for about 20% more than you pay your own salaried partners? No point taking on the eye watering debts and other liabilities! Judging by the number of cv`s doing the rounds there are plenty more people heading for the exit.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Over the Wall Club member | 19-Dec-2009 5:14 pm
Would the last Halliwells fee-earner please turn out the lights!!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 21-Dec-2009 10:54 am
good luck kennedys !
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
John The Builder | 21-Dec-2009 1:40 pm
Anonymous @ 19-12-09 0:45am
"Strong Northern firm"? Given the time of your post I will let you off if you'd had a couple of jars, but that is one of the most seriously delusional descriptions of a law firm that I have ever heard.
I feel very sorry for the Halliwells staff, most of whom were innocent bystanders in this whole mess, but if the party's over and you're still dancing then you're just making a bit of a prat of yourself. Find another party and continue your grooving, or hang around until the landlord sends you packing.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bamber Gascoine | 24-Dec-2009 9:39 am
When Kennedys find a new office in Sheffield will their equity partners
a. negotiate with the landlord in order to secure the largest reverse premium possible and pay the money to the equity partners. Then borrow millions from the bank to pay for the fit out and begin a chain reaction leading to a mass exodus
b. Secure a lease with a lengthy rent free period with the Landlord contributing to the costs of the fit out. Borrow as little as possible from the bank so as to avoid saddling the firm with milions of £`s of debt, 4 day weeks, pension holidays and a mass exodus?
c. avoid the disruption caused by an office move and simply change the sign above the door from Halliwells to Kennedys
Only those born to manage will answer correctly.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 4-Jan-2010 5:20 pm
Although Halliwells are not alone in experiencing difficult times, they do seem to be alone in that very, very few people seem to be shedding any tears for them. Whilst there may be some sympathy for some firms and even some genuine regret that one or two are suffering harder times than others, most here in the North seem to be slapping their thighs in glee. Schadenfreude is very much the order of the day when it comes to them. There seems to be a feeling that the firm has always been aggressive and arrogant and that they are now getting what was due to come back to them.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
ex employee | 14-Aug-2010 4:49 am
what went around has come around ... i'm laughing my ass off!!!!!!!!!!!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment