Strategic Merger Strengthens Cornish Service
From this month businesses, charities, public sector organisations and individuals in Cornwall can benefit from a full service Foot Anstey office, based in the county.
The merger with the respected firm of Hancock Caffin in Truro means that people in Cornwall can now access more easily the expertise of what one client told the independent Legal 500 Directory was “probably the best firm I have dealt with in my career”.
The new practice – which will operate as Foot Anstey Hancock Caffin in Cornwall – provides organisations and individuals in the county with increased specialist options and strength in depth in key areas of law. It strengthens the “buy local” legal options in the county while supporting more effectively businesses who operate throughout the south west by providing lawyers based in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
The merger represents an important milestone on the Foot Anstey drive to become the premier full service law firm in the south west and creates a 40 partner and 400 staff law firm, all of whom are based in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset with a turnover of £18m.
The merged firm plans to double its size in Truro within the next three years, further strengthening its legal offering in Cornwall and repeating the successful development which Foot Anstey has achieved in Somerset since opening in Taunton just over two years ago. It is already looking for new offices in the city with the space to accommodate this expansion.
Foot Anstey is also committed to strengthening the expertise available from its Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton offices, as well as expanding into other parts of the south west in response to client needs.
Whilst committed to growth, Foot Anstey remains focused on delivering a top rate service to its clients as reflected in its success in winning the national “Law Society Lexcel Award for Excellence in Practice Standards” – a sign that quality is not being compromised by expansion.
Managing Partner Jane Lister said: “This merger represents the coming together of two firms which share the same values, a positive approach to client service and a commitment to expand our range of expertise so that those based in the south west have access to the services they need, provided by people who live and work in the region.”
For businesses in Cornwall, they now have local access to the law firm with offices in Devon and Cornwall that, according to an independent survey by regional accountants Francis Clark, handled more deals in the past year than any other.
Merger also provides Foot Anstey clients throughout the region with increased expertise in agriculture as a result of having access to Bruce Holt’s specialist team.
Jane added: “This merger is good news not just for the people of Cornwall but for everyone who does business in the south west as they can now instruct one firm and have access to top class lawyers from the same firm in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.”
Published 30/11/2007
