Regional Focus: Leeds
It seems that Leeds really is the place to be and top of the agenda for North West firm DWF last year was to establish a Leeds presence.
Addleshaw Goddard
Firmwide turnover: 161.2m
Total partners: 171
Total lawyers: 566
Leeds trainees: 27
DLA Piper
Firmwide turnover: 366.4m
Total partners: 459
Total lawyers: 1,573
Leeds trainees: 24
Eversheds
Firmwide turnover: 323m
Total partners: 329
Total lawyers: 1,448
Leeds trainees: 28
Hammonds
Firmwide turnover: 132.6m
Total partners: 198
Total lawyers: 581
Leeds trainees: 17
Pinsent Masons
Firmwide turnover: 172m
Total partners: 243
Total lawyers: 749
Leeds trainees: 26
Walker Morris
Firmwide turnover: 45.3m
Total partners: 46
Total lawyers: 205
Leeds trainees: 30
As first reported by The Lawyer (20 November 2006), the firms managing partner Andrew Leaitherland revealed plans for an ambitious growth strategy, which included a merger with a Leeds firm. Leeds is the obvious step, said Leaitherland. Its very unlikely that well open from scratch. Well shortly engage in conversations with firms that could be potential merger partners.
Leaitherland stuck to his word and on 1 January
the firm successfully merged with northern insurance firm Ricksons.
But it has not all been plain sailing for the merged firms, with Ricksons losing a private client partner and assistant to Manchester-based Pannone on the day it completed its merger with DWF.
At the time Leaitherland told The Lawyer: Inevitably, when you bring businesses together not everyone is going to see the cultural fit. Undoubtedly there will be others who feel this way, but there will be more who see this as a great opportunity.
While Ricksons and DWF successfully completed their merger at the start of the year, Leeds-based sports and media specialist McCormicks has announced that it is set to split following a management buyout by six of the firms equity partners. The partners, led by family and private client partner Mark Burns, formed Clarion Solicitors at the start of the month. They are practising out of McCormicks Leeds office.
Law Firmy: Walker Morris
University: Sheffield
Degree: Law
Seat: Corporate
Why did you choose to join Walker Morris?
I completed a vacation scheme there that was very different to others Id been on I had fun.
Whats the best thing about your job?
I generally have fun and my efforts are appreciated. And the work I get given is not just photocopying.
Whats the most exciting deal/case youve worked on and why?
We were advising a League One football club on its potential insolvency. Due to the FA 10-point penalty imposed when a club enters insolvency and potential relegation, I was in the office with the FAs in-house lawyer, poised at the fax machine and ready to submit the out-of-hours appointment papers dependant on the final score.
Whats the most exciting deal/case youve worked
on and why?
Our client, a producer of a popular brand of outdoor clothing, felt its trademark was being infringed. In order to establish this it was necessary to gather proof of infringement. With this in mind I was sent on a shopping trip to buy some offending items. I was advised to go undercover and on no account look like a lawyer. Although I came back empty-handed, I think I pulled off the not looking like a lawyer part.
Whats the longest youve worked without sleep?
Twenty two hours.
Whats been your most embarrassing moment at work?
I was running a file where I obtained an Italian opinion on a banking law issue. I was required to sort out the invoice, but after a number of evenings with clients celebrating the festive period and insufficient rest, I accidentally billed the bank that Id been socialising with rather than the bank that had instructed us. While on a treadmill on my half-day holiday, my super-viser called to ask whether I would like to complete the matter by writing the apology letter and offering to pay for the Christmas party.
Whats the best thing about working in Leeds?
Leeds has the advantages of a cosmopolitan city without the disadvantages of long commutes, higher living costs and the lack of personal involvement in local business. And the natural beauty of Yorkshire is on my doorstep.
