Retiring lawyer says Walker Morris could look to capitals

Mr Smart, who retired as partner last month after stepping down as executive chairman last year, will stay on as a consultant with the single-site Leeds firm.

Speaking as colleagues and clients held a special dinner in his honour in Leeds last night, he described Walker Morris as prudent and “the most budgeted law firm”. He said there was little point in it opening an office in Manchester, because it is so nearby, but raised the possibility of forming closer links elsewhere.

“I think the attitude of current management and partners is that they still believe they can continue to meet their aspirations by continuing to be a one-site firm but if it ever came to the point where they thought they could do something else it could be a merger with a London or an Edinburgh firm – that could be an interesting and quirky combination. If it was me and we decided to abandon the current strategy that would be where I go.... We would be in the middle (of Britain) geographically.”

Mr Smart, who is stepping down after reaching Walker Morris’ standard retirement age of 60, also said the firm had remained a partnership rather than following the trend of incorporating as an LLP because there had been little pressure to change structures.

“There was really never any need to – providing you are confident about your business and your firm’s strength and confident about your position then you don’t need to be an LLP.”

Mr Smart, who has spent 34 years at Walker Morris, said the firm’s mantra had become the “achievement of substantial sustainable profitability” and was debt free.

He said the highlights of time included work on the flotation of housebuilder Tay Homes – now part of Redrow – in 1983 and Asda’s £778m purchase of budget retailer Netto from Danish group Dansk this year.

He added: “There has never been a day when I have not wanted to get out of bed and go to the office.”

Mr Smart’s departure comes after changes at the top of other law firms in Yorkshire’s ‘big six’.

Neil McLean stood down as managing partner of the Leeds office of DLA Piper at the end of last month.

He is now chairman of Leeds city region’s local enterprise partnership.

Nigel McClea retired as head of Pinsent Mason in Leeds last year and is now chairman of Marketing Leeds as it searches for a new chief executive.

Andrew Turnbull is now non-executive chairman of Walker Morris and Ian Gilbert was appointed as managing partner.