Switalskis’ £15m target after merger with family law firm

Yesterday, Switalskis and Parker Bird Gardner confirmed that they had agreed to merge in order to increase the range of services available to their clients.

Earlier this year, Switalskis announced that it had merged with Green Williamson, a long-established legal practice which has offices in Leeds, Wakefield and Pontefract.

John Durkan, the managing partner at Switalskis, said the deal with Huddersfield-based Parker Bird Gardner would lead to the creation of a law firm with £10m turnover and around 240 staff.

Mr Durkin said the merger had come “out of the blue” at a time of consolidation within the legal sector. He said Switalskis could grow to become a £15m turnover firm, with up to 350 staff, within three years.

Contracts to confirm the merger were signed by Lorrette Law, a senior partner at Switalskis and Paul Gardner and Ranjit Uppal from Parker Bird Gardner.

Ms Law said: “This move will allow both Switalskis and Parker Bird Gardner to further develop our legal services.”

Mr Gardner, who is a director at Parker Bird Gardner, added: “The creation of a large law practice throughout West Yorkshire will enhance the ability of both practices to provide high quality legal services to current and future clients.”

Mr Uppal, the managing director at Parker Bird Gardner, added: “We are looking forward to combining our resources. Both firms have already established very strong relationships within the family and care law sector and we are confident that our clients will continue to benefit completely.”

Parker Bird Gardner was formed in April 2006 and converted into a limited company in 2011. The practice consists of family law specialists, together with conveyancing and immigration teams from the former firm of Parker Bird.

Switalskis, which specialises in criminal and childcare law, operates from offices in Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Pontefract.

Switalskis is one of the country’s largest providers of civil legal aid in terms of fee income, and specialises in publicly funded work.

It specialises in criminal litigation, family and child care law, mental health law and housing law.

It was also revealed yesterday that the York-based law firm Ware & Kay had merged with a neighbouring firm, P J Lawrence. Peter Kay, the senior partner of Ware & Kay, which employs five partners and 45 staff in York and Wetherby, said the deal would create a strong team.

He added: “Bringing both firms together presents a great opportunity to build on the quality of support we offer already as a full service law firm to our clients, while maintaining the close client relationships that are at the heart of our approach.”

Peter Lawrence, of P J Lawrence, who is a sole practitioner, said “Ware & Kay is a very long-established and highly regarded firm and this merger will allow a wider service to be provided to clients.”

greg.wright@ypn.co.uk