Linder Myers

In 2011–12, Manchester-headquartered Linder Myers made its biggest acquisition to date when it acquired Rowlands Field Cunningham (RFC) in a pre-pack administration. The acquisition was in large part the reason for the firm’s 51 per cent hike in turnover from £10.5m to £15.9m in 2011–12.

This acquisition saw staff headcount jump to 210 and boosted the number of fee earners to 106, the number of lawyers to 75 and the partner count to 35.

The move particularly benefited the commercial property department, which grew from four to seven partners. While several lateral hires are in the pipeline, managing partner Bernard Seymour attests that the firm’s focus in the short-term will be on bringing in more junior support in the form of associates and assistants.

Linder Myers also plans to consolidate parts of its network, including its two Shropshire offices, into one space. In January 2013, the firm moved from its three offices in Manchester, which have contained overspill from the growing headcount in recent years following a series of mergers, to operate out of a single headquarters in the city.

The firm is in merger talks with several Manchester firms and has set its sights on boosting turnover to the £20m mark in 2013. Seymour also notes that the firm will be continuing to look at options to open in neighbouring county towns to consolidate its portfolio of high-net-worth and small and medium-sized enterprise clients.