Merged firm makes play for Europe

CITY firm Druces & Attlee is striking out for the European legal market after an amalgamation move brought in a batch of new overseas clients.

Druces has joined up with Michael Pearson and his firm Herringtons. It has also taken on new partners Stephen Baister and David Thomas.

Pearson, formerly senior partner with Herringtons, brings with him a "substantial" client base including companies from France, Belgium, and across eastern Europe.

The firm hopes the move will make it a bigger name in the City and enable it to capitalise on Pearson's experience of overseas clients.

Roy Campbell, practice development manager, said: "We are trying to raise our corporate profile. We had a good pool of European clients and we have been doing our best to develop that pool."

Pearson brings commercial and commercial property expertise and big name private clients with him. Baister, previously partner with Judge Sykes & Harrison, has experience of corporate and personal insolvency work. Thomas, former partner at Penningtons, has expertise in corporate finance and listed companies.