Shoosmiths has gained a publishing and digital media group after acquiring niche digital firm Laurence Kaye Solicitors.
The move will see the firm’s entire team, which includes founder Laurence Kaye and solicitors Mailin Bala and Sherif Malak, join Shoosmiths’ Milton Keynes office in April.
Kaye, who will join Shoosmiths as partner, told The Lawyer that his firm’s clients, which include News International, Money Saving Expert and Pottermore.com, the digital home of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books, are so far happy with the change.
“Clients wanted services outside of the core group we do,” replied Kaye when asked what the benefits of this acquisition are for his team.
The publishing and digital group is expected to expand further at Shoosmiths, with Kaye pointing out that “every single industry” is being impacted by the internet.
“Clients in industries from travel to retail to banking are looking for expert advice in this area,” he said.
This morning Kaye sent an email to colleagues and clients informing them that, despite the acquisition, it “remains business as usual” for the team, with there being no change in fee rates because of the move.
The deal will significantly boost the list of digital clients for Shoosmiths, whose current clients include Hewlett-Packard, McDonald’s and Volkswagen.
