Thomas Eggar moves 17 lawyers to Southampton

Southeast firm Thomas Eggar is to move six partners and 11 fee-earners to its new Southampton office from early September.

The spearhead is to focus on business development in the city, and the lawyers will practise in areas including commercial, dispute resolution and real estate.

Managing partner Tony Edwards said: “We very much want to play an enabling role in the success story that is Southampton, and Thomas Eggar looks forward to being an integral part of this city’s thriving business scene.”

He added: “Within 18 months we hope to have a fee-earner count of 30 in Southampton.”

He said this number would be mostly made up of laterals and that various approaches had been made to the firm already.

Corporate partner Caroline Armitage, banking partner Estelle Clarke, commercial and ICT partner Richard Hastings, personal tax and succession planning partner Anthony Nixon, commercial property partner Richard Purcell and employment partner Esther Smith will relocate from the firm’s offices in Newbury and Chichester.

They will be accompanied by 11 fee-earners and 13 support staff.

Thomas Eggar bought the new office space in July for £1.7m from Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons. Southampton is Thomas Eggar's sixth location after its bases in London, Gatwick, Newbury, Chichester and Worthing.

In December 2007 the firm acquired the Newbury office of Penningtons Solicitors.