Merger creates a major player
THE LATEST firm to emerge from a growing number of mergers in the legal services sector opened for business under a new banner this week.
The merger between Stockton-based Jacksons and Mincoffs of Tyneside creates one of the top five major players in the North-east.
Comprising of 21 partners and more than 160 staff, Mincoff Jacksons will operate as a two-centre practice from its current offices in Newcastle and the Tees Valley.
But the firm said it was seeking to expand its client base further across the north of England and also aimed to develop its work outside the region.
Mincoffs already acts on behalf of UK-wide commercial clients, including Tesco and Iceland food stores in the North-west and Yorkshire. Jacksons, meanwhile, which has a strong Yorkshire client base, counts CE Electric UK and the Wensleydale Creamerie at Hawes among its clients.
The new firm will be headed by current senior partners of both practices, Howard Gold and Kevin Fletcher, who will also sit on the firm’s management board with Paul Hughes and John Nicholson from Mincoffs and Nigel Kidwell and Tony Wentworth from Jacksons.
Mr Gold said: “Despite an economic downturn we are consistently working within and outside the North-east on high profile commercial caseloads, and also continuing to recruit the best legal talent to our team.”
