Cobbetts joins Read Hind to target middle market

Merger: national aspirations of big Leeds firms open door

Manchester firm Cobbetts and Leeds-based Read Hind Stewart have agreed to merge with the aim of exploiting gaps in the middle market left by the national aspirations of the larger firms in Leeds.Discussions that started last November (see [2001] Gazette, 15 November, 8) have concluded and the new 72-partner firm, that will practise under the name Cobbetts, will be launched on 1 May.

Cobbetts is contributing 54 of the partners.Kevin Jaquiss, a Cobbetts employment partner who helped negotiate the deal, said: 'We identified opportunities in the mid-corporate and employment practice areas of the market where we feel we could be dominant.

The high number of larger firms in Leeds means there is not the same number of substantial players at that market level.' Mr Jaquiss added that he hoped Read Hind's strong development practice would help consolidate Cobbett's position in the property market and that, even though 'the largest percentage growth of the firm will happen in Leeds', further development is planned in Manchester.David Hymas, Read Hind's managing partner, said: 'The big six firms in Leeds are trying to establish themselves throughout the UK and this leaves a massive middle market to be exploited.

Following the merger there will be a number of staff joining the Leeds office - both from Manchester and new recruits - and I anticipate us requiring more office space in the near future.' Mr Hymas identified the 'big six' in Leeds as DLA, Addleshaw Booth, Eversheds, Hammonds Suddards Edge, Pinsent Curtis Biddle and Walker Morris.Andrew Towler