Landwell positions itself at the centre of PwC operations

Concerns about the links between auditors and other professionals, especially lawyers, in the wake of the Enron scandal have not halted Landwell - the law firm associated with PricewaterhouseCoopers - tying itself closer to its parent.

Landwell is to vacate its satellite PwC office near St Paul's and relocate to a floor in PwC's Southwark Towers, one of the two main PwC offices in London.

Landwell senior partner Chris Arnheim said the move came because PwC wanted to sublet the satellite office and also because he wanted Landwell to be more central in the thoughts of PwC partners.

The new office gives the firm better-quality accommodation and room to grow, he maintained.

The law firm's revenues were up 30% in the last year.

Garretts already shares offices with its parent Andersen, although it has a separate entrance and reception, electronic locks on the doors and electronic separation of files.

KLegal, KPMG's associated firm, has a similar arrangement.

However, Tite & Lewis, Ernst & Young's associated firm, has its own offices.

'Our physical separation is a reflection of our positioning as an independent law firm,' said a spokesman.

Neil Rose