Weightmans set for Yorkshire move

NORTH West-based national law firm Weightmans is set to establish its first Yorkshire presence.

The Liverpool firm is the throes of tying-up a merger with Leeds-based Ford & Warren, which will be finalised by July.

The merged firm, which will practice under the Weightmans name, will have 187 partners. Around an additional 100 employees from Ford & Warren’s will be added to the expanded firm.

Weightmans will be able to expand its nationwide footprint with the merger. The firm already employs 1,300 people across offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Knutsford, Birmingham, Dartford, Glasgow, Knutsford, Leicester and London.

John Schorah, managing partner at Weightmans said: “The move is very much client driven, both in terms of clients we have in common and support from our clients to be there. Having explored and discussed our synergies, we believe we can, as a combined firm, grow in the Leeds market.”

Peter McWilliams, managing partner at Ford & Warren said: “We see the future of delivery of legal services being by practices with a national presence, where clients can access, to its fullest extent, the strength in depth that such a presence can provide.

“The introduction of Weightmans to the Leeds market is exciting; and we are hugely excited, for our clients and ourselves, at the prospect of our successful practice becoming part of a such a forward-thinking and successful practice as Weightmans.”