Top commercial firm Nabarro Nathanson is to shut its seven-partner Reading office, it emerged this week, as Thames Valley rival Pitmans unveiled plans to open in the City.


All partners and staff in Nabarros' Reading arm have been offered jobs in its London head office following the announcement.


Simon Johnston, the firm's senior partner, told the Gazette: 'When the office was set up 17 years ago, the IT industry was at its infant stages - people needed to be on the doorstep. Now they are acting for international companies and the rationale is no longer there.'


The increasing size of the deals being handled also meant that the firm would have needed to invest significantly in areas such as tax and employment in Reading, he said.


Denying the suggestion that the closure was a cost-cutting exercise, Mr Johnston said: 'Our view is that, over the next two to five years, having all these things together in one place will create more synergies and opportunities.'


Meanwhile Pitmans, which has previously styled itself as the largest single-site firm in the Thames Valley, will open an office in London next week.



Christopher Avery, the firm's managing partner, said the move was a result of an increased workload in the City, Docklands and east London.


Four partners - drawn from the firm's planning, banking and corporate departments - will initially spend a significant amount of time using the office as a base.


Mr Avery, who said other departments will become established in the Cornhill office during the next 12 months, admitted that the firm had previously resisted the idea of opening up in the City.


He said: 'This is a very exciting phase in the development of the firm, and will inevitably create opportunities to build on our existing relationships in London.'