DWF merges with £2.5m London litigation boutique
City-based insurance firm has an annual turnover of £2.5m and acts for insurers and local authorities
April 23, 2015 at 10:33 AM
2 minute read
DWF is to merge with niche insurance litigation practice Watmores, the firm announced today.
The five-partner boutique has an annual turnover of £2.5m and employs a total of 26 staff.
Watmores' clients include major UK insures, local authorities and rail operators. At present Watmores acts for 13 of the 32 local authorities based in London.
The move is the latest in a long line of tie-ups for DWF, including its takeover of Cobbetts in 2013 when the firm fell into administration.
DWF's managing partner and chief executive officer Andrew Leaitherland (pictured) said Watmores had "first-rate niche expertise" that would "add depth" to DWF's own.
He added that the merger would "enable us to deliver enhanced service to our existing clients and also to grow our client base of insurers, local authorities and rail operators".
All of Watmores' staff will move into DWF's office space within the Walkie Talkie building. The firms' management has not yet decided what will happen to Watmores' office space on Chancery Lane.
Watmores partner Simon Johnson said: "Combining forces with DWF will enable us to capitalise on the firm's infrastructure, tech capability and reach to strengthen our shared focus and capability in key industry sectors for the benefit of our clients, a significant number of whom we have in common."
The merger is expected to be finalised in May 2015.
This year DWF announced the opening of its first international office with the launch of a two-partner base in Dubai.
DWF merger timeline
Jan 2007 Ricksons
Jan 2012 Crutes
May 2012 Buller Jeffries
July 2012 Biggart Baillie
Feb 2013 Fishburns and Cobbetts
April 2015 Watmores
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