Law firms quit former Halliwells base
LAW firms HBJ Gateley Wareing and Barlow Lyde & Gilbert have completed their moves out of the former Spinningfields home of failed legal practice Halliwells.
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has taken a further four floors of its existing premises in Chancery Place to accommodate 18 partners and over 200 staff from Halliwells.
BLG now has over 250 people in the city, working predominantly on contentious insurance matters, including casualty, professional indemnity and commercial risk. The firm now occupies 41,000 sq ft over five floors of Chancery Place and completed the fit-out in just six weeks.
BLG senior partner Simon Konsta said: “It’s a tribute to the effort and professionalism of our facilities and IT teams that we have managed to get so many new colleagues up and running in Chancery Place in such a short timescale.
“Having our Manchester operation housed under one roof will help us continue to offer our clients the efficient and flexible service we know they want.”
Birmingham-based HBJ Gateley Wareing has moved its 200-strong team from 3 Hardman Square to Ship Canal House on King Street. The firm has taken just over 31,000sq ft at the historic building.
Senior office partner Rod Waldie, said: “Opening for business today at Ship Canal House is a very important step as we work to build the firm’s brand here in the city and across the North West.
“Everyone here is tremendously optimistic and looking forward to the future as part of a major national law firm with an exciting vision for the North West.”
Both firms had been operating from 3 Hardman Square since the demise of Halliwells at the end of July. Hill Dickinson acquired the firm’s Liverpool and Sheffield assets before it was placed into administration.
