Cobbetts names new head of city office in shake-up

Cobbetts has formed three business practice groups – business services, dispute resolution and real estate – as part of a strategy to streamline its management structure.

As a result of the changes, Andrew Flounders will succeed Guy Jackson as head of the Leeds office, which has 200 staff.

Mr Jackson becomes business practice group leader for the law firm’s new business services team.

Mr Jackson will lead the firm’s corporate and commercial teams. He will have responsibility for the firm’s charities and private client, banking and business restructuring services, and the employment and pensions team, along with the corporate aspects of the housing team.

Earlier this year, Mr Jackson told the Yorkshire Post that Cobbetts was seeking new markets for legal services, in countries such as Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. International work accounted for around 65 per cent of the law firm’s Leeds-based corporate team’s turnover last year.

Capital markets work within the team is expected to increase by 15 to 20 per cent this year.

It was also announced yesterday that the dispute resolution business practice group will be headed by Richard Webb, while Paul Inman has been made group leader of the real estate business practice group. Each of the business practice group leaders will form part of the executive management team alongside financial director James Boyd and recently appointed managing partner Nick Carr.

Mr Carr said yesterday: “The creation of three distinct business practice groups will help to streamline the strategic and operational management of the business, while also enabling us to focus on our core strengths as a firm.

“I look forward to working closely with the executive management team to drive forward our strategy of regional focus, national reach and international outlook.”

The firm’s Birmingham office is led by Graham Muth, while Paul Johnson heads up the Manchester office, which has 250 staff. Chris Ramage is in charge of the firm’s London office.

In January, Cobbetts and DWF revealed they had ended merger talks because of uncertain market conditions.

In a statement, Cobbetts and DWF said “growth by merger and lateral hires continues to be an option for both firms”.