Radcliffes private client head takes team to Bircham & Co

Radcliffes is attempting to plug a gap in its tax and private client division after the lead partner and four members left to join Bircham & Co.

Stephen Lewin, head of Radcliffes' tax and private client department, and his colleagues will join the firm today (12 June).

Offshore expert Helen Ratcliffe is joining Bircham & Co as an associate and private client expert Sarah Giles as assistant solicitor. Two administration staff are also moving.

Lewin is the second senior lawyer to leave Radcliffes for Bircham & Co. Former head of charity Paul Voller moved to the firm's corporate department last year.

Radcliffes' senior partner Richard Price is surprised by Lewin's departure from what he describes as "an expanding department with strong all-round performance last year".

Bircham &Co executive committee chairman Nicholas Brown says: "Stephen Lewin will be joining us as a partner, bringing with him a strong team, turnover and clients."

Brown says that the appointments are part of a three-year plan to expand the firm's private client team.

"I am still talking with other partners and we may end up adding to this team and also looking to strengthen the planning department," he says.

Last year, Bircham & Co attracted Manches' head of corporate Simon Smith, three lawyers from Rowe & Maw and one from Nabarro Nathanson.

Price adds: "Our private client practice has been enhanced by the recent arrival of Bill Penchartz with his own practice and Clara Trounson from Linklaters."

Radcliffes senior partner Robert Vallings is taking over Lewin's old position.