Weightmans links up with Vizards as London beckons

INSURANCE: northern practice creates national presence

Northern insurance practice Weightmans has moved into London after merging with three-quarters of City law firm Vizard Oldham.

Fifteen litigation partners have joined Weightmans, now known as Weightman Vizards, while the other five partners have merged with three-partner London commercial practice Brooke Blain Russell.

Weightman's senior partner Ian Evans, who retains the role in the new 72-partner firm, said: 'We have had requests from a number of clients saying we should be in London, but we have never been able to find the right partner.

'Vizard is strong in the general and specialist insurance markets, which are areas we are looking to develop.'

Mr Evans said the move was 'an important piece of the jigsaw, giving us the credibility of a London office and giving us a national firm overnight'.

In 1998, its three-way merger talks with north-east firm Jacksons and City practice Kennedys failed.

Vizard's senior partner, Richard Foster, who has become head of healthcare, said: 'We hope the merger will consolidate our position as a major player in insurance litigation, NHS and healthcare law, and local authority and public sector work.'

He said the split with the non-litigation partners - who will work in an eight-partner firm named Vizard Oldham Brooke Blain - was 'completely amiable'.

Vizard partner Ron Perry is senior partner of the new Brooke Blain practice.

Lynne Brooke, senior partner at Brooke Blain and head of corporate after the merger, said: 'The non-litigation partners at Vizards didn't want to be the rump of a larger clinical negligence firm, but rather bolster their commercial work.

The merged firm will be very much specialising in business law.

We will also be the first firm to have a specific department for the restaurant trade.'

In 1999, Vizards demerged into Vizard Oldham and Vizards Staples & Bannister, which itself has merged recently to create Vizards Wyeth.

Andrew Towler