Radcliffes merges with Le Brasseur to create healthcare giant

The new 61-partner firm will be named RadcliffesLeBrasseur and will have offices in London, Leeds and Cardiff.
Following the merger, the healthcare group will make up 28 per cent of the firm's practice.
Radcliffes chief executive Vincent Denham said that the change in direction makes sense in the current economic climate. "Healthcare litigation is not subject to the M&A slowdown, and in this respect the work is recession proof," he said.
Through the merger, Le Brasseur will consolidate its practice and broaden its range of legal services, while Radcliffes will develop the quality and expertise within its healthcare department.
Denham said that the Leeds and the Cardiff offices will play an important role in the merged firm, particularly Leeds, which will be used as a platform for commercial and property work.
The move follows Radcliffes' merger last year with seven-partner niche property investment and development firm Jay Benning & Peltz.
Denham said that Radcliffes' strategy is still focused on developing its core practice areas in corporate, property, tax and private client, charities and healthcare.
He believes the firm needs to continue growing and he does not rule out the possibility of future mergers.
Following the merger, which will take effect at the beginning of December, Robert Vallings will continue in his role as senior partner and Denham will maintain his role as chief executive. However, a new management board will be created, which will be made up of the existing Radcliffes management board plus three partners from Le Brasseur.
All equity partners from Le Brasseur will integrate into the top of equity. However, Denham said that a performance-related scheme for partners will be introduced next year.