Jobs fears as Blakemores shuts down suddenly
MORE than 200 jobs are thought to be at risk in Birmingham and Warwickshire following the closure of a law firm.
Blakemores, which has offices in Great Charles Street in the city and in Leamington Spa, is believed to have shut down yesterday. The firm also operated the Lawyers2you brand.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has stepped in to oversee the firm’s outstanding work. It said it had stopped the firm from operating, taken possession of all documents and papers held by the firm (including clients’ papers), and taken possession of all money held by the firm.
The firm was founded in 1961 by Roger Blakemore and specialised in property conveyancing. Over the next 30 years it expanded into 14 small local practices.
In 2002 Guy Barnett was appointed managing partner and led the firm through a major change programme. Firstly by scaling down the high street operation to concentrate on becoming a serious player in the Midlands market.
By 2005 it had consolidated into two larger offices in Birmingham and Leamington Spa.
As the firm’s business grew – by around 20-30% each year – staff numbers increased and the firm was named Birmingham Law Society Law Firm of the Year 2006 & 2007.
In 2010, it launched the Lawyers2you brand, which targeted business through bases in shopping centres and high footfall locations including Birmingham Airport.
