Management buyout forms new firm

Home counties law firm Brain & Brain has split after a management buyout by four of its partners.

The Basingstoke office is being relaunched as Brain Chase Coles, while the Reading branch continues as Brain & Brain.

Heads of both firms say the split is amicable and evolved by commercial work going to Reading while private clients went to Basingstoke.

Nicholas Massey-Chase, Jonathan Coles, Sheila Parkes and Margaret Stevenson, the partners behind Brain Chase Coles, now say that they are planning to expand.

Massey-Chase, managing partner, says: "Our desire for independence took root a year ago. Since then we have been preparing for the day.

"Basingstoke has always been a good town for our practice, which is why we are now aiming to further strengthen our base here."

Keith Whyman, who remains as managing partner of Brain & Brain, adds: "The setting up of Brain Chase Coles was a logical development enabling both firms to run more efficiently."

The new firm will work from its existing base at Haymarket House. It will be offering a range of services but claims expertise in divorce and child-related matters, litigation, conveyancing, and property law.

The partners are already recruiting new staff - including a solicitor - and plan to expand gradually the number of lawyers in the firm.