Walkover for Walkers

Leeds-based Walker Morris was this week revealed as the favourite law firm among large corporate clients in Yorkshire.The survey of the region's businesses and their lawyers, by Yorkshire Intelligence, placed the firm top in its list of advisers to top 50 quoted companies, acting for nine of the giants and pipping Eversheds, which advised eight.Hammonds Suddards Edge, with six large corporate clients, and Pinsent Curtis Biddle with five, also ranked highly with larger companies.Walker Morris came second with the smaller top 50 quoted companies, acting for eight compared to DLA's 12.

Pinsents counts seven smaller companies among its clients, with Hammonds advising five.

Addleshaw Booth & Co has four each of large and small clients.

Hammonds and Bradford firm Gordons Cranswick act for the biggest fish, WM Morrison Supermarkets.

Herbert Smith advises Yorkshire's second biggest company, Bradford & Bingley, one of three top 50 companies it represents - more than any other City firm.Peter Smart, chairman of Walker Morris, said the findings boosted the firm's aim of becoming the region's leading corporate adviser, and put its success down to its single office which concentrates the firm's expertise in one place.Nigel Kissack, managing partner in Pinsent Curtis Biddle's Leeds office, said firms are thriving in the region, which has shown no signs of recession.

'Our Leeds office is nicely ahead of budget,' he said.Paula Rohan