Exodus of private client staff forces Maples into rethink

Central London firm Maples Teesdale has turned into a niche property and construction practice after losing its entire private client department.

The team of three partners, three assistants, a senior consultant and four support staff have moved to fellow London firm Lee & Pembertons.

They accounted for around one-third of Maples Teesdale's practice.

Lee & Pembertons' senior partner Julian Whately said the introduction came via a property partner who had made the same move last year.

Maples Teesdale will go forward with five partners.

Managing partner Andrew Whittaker said it had been 'inevitable sooner or later' that the two sides to the practice would drift apart.

The trend was for private client work to be concentrated in fewer and fewer firms, he added, and it was reaching the stage where Maples was not able to offer private clients the full range of services.

Mr Whately said: 'The Maples Teesdale team will...

help position us as one of the leading private client firms in London.'

Neil Rose