Shoosmiths sets up in Milton Keynes to attract City clients

Midlands firm Shoosmiths hopes to lure clients from City firms with a new office in Milton Keynes.

Shoosmiths has shunned London as a venue for a new office and instead chosen to open in Milton Keynes as part of a strategic move to target multi-national companies such as Abbey National, Argos, BP Amoco, Mobil, BT and Volkswagen.

Gary Assim, the partner in charge of the four-partner office, said the firm will target e-commerce, intellectual property, corporate, pensions and employment work, which it hopes to win from City firms.

The firm is not new to Milton Keynes.

It closed its office there 15 years ago - a move described as 'history' by Mr Assim.

But he added: 'We are not coming into the market cold, we are not unknown.'

Top City firm Denton Wilde Sapte has a Milton Keynes office.

Partner James Fairbairn, based in the commercial property litigation and construction-focused office for ten years, said: 'There's always multi-nationals moving into Milton Keynes.' But he warned that these companies tend to be loyal to London firms, even though they might hire other firms for lower value work.

Anne Mizzi