One of Kent’s best known lawyers has thrown his weight behind the merger of Cripps Harries Hall and Vertex Law, which is due to come into effect at the end of September.
Philip Cunningham, the former managing partner at Brachers, has joined as a partner in the corporate finance team.
“I have a lot of respect for both parties in the merger,” he said. “Vertex Law has a very strong corporate and commercial offering and the combination of that expertise with Cripps Harries Hall’s excellence in property and private client work makes for an extremely good fit.
“Not only is it excellent news for existing clients but it also means that there is now a law firm in the area with the expertise and resources to serve the larger businesses in the region – those that currently tend to go to London for legal advice.”
Cripps’ Managing Partner, Gavin Tyler, added: “The merger of Cripps and Vertex Law is all about taking two high performing organisations and building a team that can offer clients both excellent service and an unrivalled breadth and depth of expertise. The addition of Philip Cunningham further strengthens our offering to corporate and commercial clients.”
A successful entrepreneur as well as a lawyer with extensive international experience, Mr Cunningham has previously built up and sold his own telecoms business and is currently a director and co-owner of Chartway Group, a £16million turnover Kent residential development and construction company.
Vertex Law’s James Beatton said: “Philip Cunningham has a great track record. His entrepreneurial approach, his knowledge of corporate law, his contacts and his practical business experience will prove invaluable.”
When he’s not at work, Mr Cunningham enjoys travelling off the beaten track. Already this year he has backpacked along the spine of the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia and driven from Windhoek in Namibia across the Kalahari and Botswana to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. A keen sportsman, he lives in Sutton Valence and is married with three grown-up children.
Cripps Harries Hall and Vertex Law are due to complete their merger at the end of September. The combined firm will have 45 partners and 260 staff operating from offices in Tunbridge Wells, Kings Hill and London.