hlw Keeble Hawson ready to take on competition

THE merger of law firms hlw and Keeble Hawson will allow the pair to “step up a level” and create a firm ready to take on a number of larger Yorkshire rivals, according to its two managing partners.

Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com, Paul Trudgill and Roger Dyson said staff from the two firms’ Leeds offices would come together under one roof at Protection House on East Parade when the merger takes effect on October 1.

The pair believe the merger will move the firms to a more competitve level and allow them to take on larger rivals such as fellow Yorkshire law firm Gordons.

And they said they believed there would be more consolidation in the legal sector as the effects of the economic downturn and changes in the way law firms operate affect the market.

The merged firm, announced in July, will have more than 250 staff with 200 of those in Sheffield, 50 in Leeds and a number in Doncaster and will be known as hlw Keeble  Hawson.

Mr Dyson, managing partner at hlw, said: “Putting us both together in a competitve place like the Leeds market gives us a better chance to keep up with recessionary demands.We both have a wide range of services. For example we don’t have a strong private client team, Keeble Hawson does.”

Mr Trudgill, managing partner of Keeble Hawson, said: “Putting us together in terms of size I hope we’re going to be looking at a different market and different competitors. We’re looking now at competing with firms like Gordons.

“That’s our aspiration and we want to be challenging those firms which haven’t seen us as a competitor before.”

Explaining why the two firms felt a merger was the best option, Mr Trudgill said they could both see growth coming quicker as a joint entity.

Commenting on the market, Mr Trudgill said: “If anyone tells you they’re flying away in this market they’re pulling your leg.

“It’s tough for traditional, commercial work. However, areas like private client are more resilient as they’re more cyclical.

“Having said all that, I think the business market is better than it was 12 months ago. But there is a lack of confidence and that’s leading to barriers with deals taking longer to happen.”

Sectors the merged firm will look to grow, aside from its commercial law expertise, include intellectual property and IT, pensions and tax and dispute resolution.

Mr Trudgill added: “We’re both as firms really excited about bringing us both together. In South Yorkshire it will change the landscape as it will create a size of firm that doesn’t exist at present.

“We expect to keep all of our clients and attract new ones and we’ve been overwhelmed by the level of positive response we’ve had.”