Rouse & Co benefits from Dallas Brett dissolution

Seven-partner Oxford commercial practice Dallas Brett is dissolving, with its three intellectual property partners, Anna Booy, Ben Goodger and senior partner Hugh Brett, leaving for Rouse & Co International.

At the time of going to press, managing partner and leading South East corporate finance lawyer Jonathan Loake was believed to be still considering his position.

Property and planning and environment lawyer Richard Smith is joining another firm in the region with his assistant and all his clients, while commercial litigator Andrew Shaw and aviation specialist Glenvil Smith are continuing in a new practice likely to be based at the same office.

Rouse & Co will maintain Booy, Goodger and Brett in the Oxford office, with Brett becoming a consultant. Rouse & Co is also taking on three solicitors from Dallas Brett.

Dallas Brett was founded in 1982 and had built up a name as one of the leading IP firms in the South East.

Peter Rouse, managing director of Rouse & Co, said the two firms had broadly similar client bases, advising multinational companies on brand strategies and both were prominent in IT and entertainment.