Beachcroft has lost its head of technology Nick Holland to rival firm Eversheds.
Holland, who will join Eversheds as a partner in January, has quit Beachcroft to take advantage of Eversheds’ wider European offering.
Eversheds head of technology Rex Parry said: “Nick advises suppliers of IT kit and his business is pan-European. He aims to strengthen what he can do with those clients with a network to back him up.”
Beachcroft has appointed John Yates to head its technology practice following Holland’s departure. Yates aims to grow Beachcroft’s technology practice. His goals are to create a national technology firm, to extend service offerings beyond contractual advice and to work closely with other Beachcroft practices to win new clients.
He told The Lawyer: “We have a big team, but historically those teams have operated in isolation. I want to make the department more integrated so it operates as a national firm.”
Yates established technology boutique V-lex, which was bought out by Beachcroft in March 2006, when Yates found his opportunities limited as a niche firm.
He added: “There aren’t many firms which have cracked full service in technology, and that is a gap we intend to fill. We want more buy-side business so we can attract the major buyers.
“We have major insurance and health practices but our technology penetration in those areas is limited, there is massive scope to grow there.”
