DAC-Beachcroft tie-up strengthens firm’s litigation offer
THE merger between law firms Beachcroft and Davies Arnold Cooper will broaden the scope of both firms and create a top-class team of litigators in Manchester, according to office head Robert Moss.
The tie-up, which takes effect from today, will create an organisation with income of £175m and more than 2,000 people across its network of UK and international offices.
In Manchester, which is the only city outside London where both firms had a presence, the combined DAC Beachcroft team will consist of around 175 people headed by Beachcroft’s Robert Moss.
He highlighted Davies Arnold Cooper’s international footprint as a key attraction for Beachcroft’s, which before the merger operated from eight offices in England & Wales and one office in Ireland.
“That was the initial driver, but as we looked more closely, we realised how many other areas fitted.”
For instance, he said the tie-up created a real estate practice which would be a presence in that market generating annual revenues of around £25m.
“In the North West, the major boost is in the litigation side.”
Moss said that Davies Arnold Cooper has two partners and a team whereas Beachcroft had previously relied on expertise provided by its other offices.
“Once we get that additional offer it will be another string to our bow in real estate.”
He also said that Davies Arnold Cooper’s real estate team had a recognised strength in the residential property market, particularly with major housebuilders.
In commercial litigation, he added that the combined team would have “ten leading litigation experts across a range of services”, with Beachcroft’s IP expert Jan Levinson being joined by banking litigation specialist Alex Megaw and by established commercial disputes lawyer Sydney Fulda.
Most of the Manchester-based staff will be based at Beachcroft’s new open-plan offices at Spinningfields’ 3 Hardman St, but it only has capacity for 160 staff so Davies Arnold coopers’ Fountain Street offices are also being retained for a period.
Moss said that a planned expansion of the practice’s fraud unit will increase the firm’s ranks in Manchester to around 210, with an extra 35 staff due to join by the end of next spring.
