Brain drain warning for regional firms

The provinces are set to undergo a brain drain of lawyers heading for sky-high City salaries, a midlands recruiter claimed last week.

Anthony Tomkins chief...The provinces are set to undergo a brain drain of lawyers heading for sky-high City salaries, a midlands recruiter claimed last week.

Anthony Tomkins chief executive of Birmingham-based Charles Fellowes Resourcing said a salary differential of 20% in favour of the City two years ago has now doubled to 40%.

This is creating too great a draw on local talent, said Mr Tomkins, who maintains the City is putting pressure on regional firms to match salary growth.

Birminghams success is turning into its Achilles heel, Mr Tomkins said, adding, the City recognises that Birminghams junior corporate lawyers have invaluable rounded experience for deals.

Quentin Poole, managing partner of Birmingham-based Wragge & Co, said the assertion couldnt be more wrong, from his firms point of view.

He said: Each year we lose maybe three lawyers to the City, and recruit between 30 and 40 lawyers from it.

However, he said that Wragges, with its reputation as the regions leading firm, might buck the trend.

He said: When I talk to other Birmingham people, they say they find recruiting is a nightmare and Im thinking we dont.

I dont mean to sound clever and complacent, but thats just the way it is.

Jeremy Fleming