Law firms complete merger
Beachcroft LLP and Davies Arnold Cooper LLP merged on Monday to form DAC Beachcroft LLP.
The new firm will operate from the same two offices in Manchester city centre where both companies are currently based in Fountain Street and Hardman Street.
DAC Beachcroft also has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Newcastle, Newport and Winchester.
The merger means the total number of staff based in Manchester is 175.
DAC Beachcroft works with clients in industry sectors including real estate, health and insurance.
The new firm will have practice group and sector heads leading teams of legal experts across industry sectors.
Based in Manchester, Sue Jenkins is sector head for the retail and leisure team while Michael Bothamley, who is based in Bristol, is sector head for the real estate team.
Robert Lee, who is based in London, is the practice head for the firm's real estate team.
In Manchester, Alison Key is the real estate lead partner which has 21 members of staff in the team.
Simon Hodson, senior partner of DAC Beachcroft, said: "Today is a significant landmark in the history of both firms as we join forces to create DAC Beachcroft. The abundant synergies between the firms are illustrated not only by the sectors in which we operate but also by the full range of services we can now offer clients. Covering both bespoke high-value instructions through to high volume low-cost work, we are ideally positioned to cater for the changing legal needs of our clients. Insurance and Healthcare are both industries where the new firm will continue to lead however an added bonus of the merger is the significant increase in our real estate capability across the UK and in Madrid."
Paul Murray, managing partner of DAC Beachcroft, added: "I am very pleased with how the integration has gone so far. This is an on-going process that will be fully completed over the next 12 months. Nevertheless, our management teams have been very professional in their approach and the Practice Group Heads have all started mapping clients from both firms and setting the strategy for their respective groups. Overall, I am most pleased with the cultural fit of the two firms – we actually get on together very well. Personally, it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know my new colleagues in London, Manchester, Madrid and Mexico."
DAC Beachcroft employs more than 2,000 people across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
The merger has taken the total number of partners at the firm to 230.
