JMW swoops for Goodman Harvey
LAW firm JMW has snapped up niche Manchester practice Goodman Harvey, a move which will add around £1m to fee income and strengthen its property and litigation offering.
Currently-based on South King Street, Goodman Harvey will become part of Spinningfields firm JMW on June 1. Founded in 2004 by property lawyer Stephen Goodman, the firm counts a number of leading regional companies among its clients, including Yearsley Group and Pochins.
A total of six staff will move over, including Mr Goodman and litigation partners Mark Jones and Alison Parry. More appointments are expected in due course.
The deal is JMW’s first acquisition since it’s 1999 purchase of clinical negligence specialist Hatton, Scates and Horton.
Stephen Goodman said: “When we were first approached by another law firm, some six months ago, we decided that merger with a larger practice would best meet the needs of our clients now and into the future. When we met JMW we felt that they were a great fit for us.
“We didn’t want to join a large regional or national practice but instead wanted to join a successful entrepreneurial and ambitious firm. We are all excited to be working with their strong commercial property and commercial litigation teams. Our clients have reacted very positively to the move and have seen the advantage of being able to access the full range of legal services at JMW.”
JMW senior partner Joy Kingsley said: “We are delighted to welcome both Stephen and Mark and their teams to JMW. They are all specialists in commercial property and litigation and will be a fantastic asset to the firm in general.
“While the existing clients and work will hopefully all transfer, the value to us is considerably more than the existing work, as Goodman Harvey has traditionally outsourced all other work types, particularly corporate work. We are looking forward to working together and developing relationships across the firm.”
Mr Goodman previously worked for Halliwells and Hammonds and Mark Davies is a former head of litigation at George Davies.
Goodman Harvey client Harry Yearsley, managing director of the Yearsley Group, the warehousing and distribution company, welcomed the merger: “We have been working with Mark Jones as our lawyer for many years and are pleased that Goodman Harvey has merged with an ambitious and flourishing firm like JMW.
“We think very highly of Goodman Harvey and the work they do for us and we look forward to continuing to grow the Yearsley Group further with the help, support and legal expertise that JMW can offer.”
