Firms circle Garretts

At least three firms are believed to be still circling the remains of Andersen's legal arm Garretts after lawyers from the firm's Manchester and Birmingham offices found new homes last week.

However, the future of Garretts' Reading office remains up in the air after City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse said this week that it had pulled out of talks to take it over.

Pinsent Curtis Biddle took on most of Garretts' 60 Birmingham staff, including all its trainees.

Garretts' local managing partner Paul Finlan will replace Greg Lowson - who becomes president of Birmingham's chamber of commerce next year - as Pinsents' managing partner in Birmingham.

Two Garretts' partners will not join the firm.

In Manchester, seven Garretts' lawyers, including three partners, are moving to Beachcroft Wansbroughs; last month the head of the office and another partner moved to Addleshaw Booth & Co.

In London, no formal announcement has yet been made, except that head of banking Douglas Colliver has taken the same role at Hammond Suddards Edge.

City firm Taylor Joynson Garrett is understood to be angling for the commercial property and corporate departments, while Andersen Legal's former Scottish member Dundas & Wilson is believed to be interested in other staff.

City firm Bird & Bird is also thought to be circling.

Garretts will close on 31 May.

Jeremy Fleming