Three Gordon Dadds partners set up boutique

Three lawyers have defected from high-profile Mayfair private client firm Gordon Dadds to set up their own family law practice.

Former senior partner Douglas Alexiou, who represented Spice Girl Melanie Gulzar, now Brown, in her divorce battle last summer, is leaving to pursue a specialist practice with fellow partners Jeremy Fisher and Susan Phillips on 31 July this year.

Gordon Dadds' new senior partner Roger Peters says: "They had a different approach and wanted to have a niche practice in a family law firm, whereas we wished to continue with a broad-based practice."

Gordon Dadds also offers a company/commercial capability and property and litigation services. The departures leave partner Sue Bland heading family law. Partners Kathryn Peat and David Ruck will assist Bland, but Peters admits that further recruits may be needed.

Alexiou says: "The split is amicable, but we wanted to set up a niche practice. We'll all be practising from our new West End offices on 1 August. I felt like a new challenge after 30 years at Gordon Dadds."