Two of Kent’s best-known law firms – ‘rising star’ Vertex Law LLP and ‘powerhouse’ Cripps Harries Hall LLP – have announced that they will be merging at the end of September 2013.
The combined strength of the two firms creates a major new law firm, with 45 partners and 260 staff and an enhanced joint client offering across core areas.
With Cripps’ office in Tunbridge Wells and Vertex’s office closer to the centre of Kent, in Kings Hill, the combined firm will have a stronger position in the Kent legal market and an increased reach across London and the South East.
Cripps’ Managing Partner, Gavin Tyler, commented: “I am really excited at the prospect of this merger. We have been looking to grow and this merger with Vertex Law is one that makes a lot of sense to us. Their practice complements ours perfectly: it allows both firms to boost their expertise, doubles the size of our current corporate and commercial practices and provides a better balance to our key practices in Real Estate, Private Client and Corporate.
“The Vertex Law partners and staff have an entrepreneurial client base and approach, operating in the same or complementary sectors to ours, including technology and healthcare”.
James Beatton, one of the founders of Vertex Law, said: “The two firms are a very good match and share the same values. Vertex benefits from Cripps Harries Hall’s greater presence in London and the South East; in return we bring our strong position in the Kent commercial market as well as our unique culture and the value we place on innovation, staff empowerment and customer service.
“Both firms share similar strategic goals and are financially robust, so pooling our resources makes complete sense and establishes a strong basis for further regional growth”.
Cripps Harries Hall, which has 38 partners and more than 220 staff, is headquartered in Tunbridge Wells and has an additional office in London. The firm provides a range of legal services, and has a national reputation for its services to individuals as well as for its real estate work.
Vertex Law was formed in 2004 to focus on the needs of corporate clients and to use new working practices and IT to deliver a flexible, client-focused service. It has 47 staff and is based at Kings Hill.
Both firms scored highly in the 2013 edition of Chambers, the authoritative national guide to lawyers and law firms. Between them, the two firms received top rankings in 17 different categories, with Cripps Harries Hall coming first in 13 and Vertex Law in five*.
This year’s Kent & Medway Legal Sector Review named Vertex Law the county’s number one ‘rising star’ among law firms, predicting ‘great things in 2013’, while Cripps Harries Hall was described as a ‘powerhouse’ and that it was ‘hard to see how any other firm could challenge it’ regionally.
The two firms will continue to trade under their own names pending full integration of the two businesses. The Vertex Law team will remain at Kings Hill.
For further information about the two firms, visit www.crippslaw.com or www.vertexlaw.co.uk
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