South West firms merge to create 34-partner practice

Foot & Bowden and Anstey Sargent & Probert are merging to form one of the biggest firms in the South West.

The new 34-partner practice will be called Foot Anstey Sargent and will specialise in corporate, commercial and employment work. With its numbers it will rival the top five in the region. It has national clients including British Airways, Lloyds Bank and Norwich Union.

Foot & Bowden managing partner Jane Lister will take the same position in the new firm, which will come into being on 1 February 2000.

Lister says the merger will allow the firm to expand and attract a broader range of commercial clients. She says: "Obviously the new firm will be looking to continue to increase its size and hopes to enlarge its national client base. We want our competitors to be clear about our aims and potential not only in the west country but nationally and internationally."

The firms' other clients include British Gas, Northcliffe Newspaper Group, Eagle Star and Wrigleys.

The merged firm will have offices in Plymouth and Exeter and intends to make lateral hires to build its team.