The Natural Step Forward

TWO long-established Yorkshire legal firms have merged, it was announced yesterday.

Ware & Kay, which has offices in York and Wetherby, said that it has joined forces with Sykes Lee & Brydson. The combined practices will operate under the name Ware & Kay, headed by Peter Kay as senior partner.

Ware & Kay said that it identified that Sykes Lee & Brydson shares "a similar ethos and approach to its own", adding that as a result of the merger annual turnover will rise by 25 per cent from £2m.

The firm said that it welcomed the additional staff and its clients as part of a planned expansion strategy. The financial details of the merger were not disclosed.

Ware & Kay has been operating for 200 years, while the history of Sykes Lee & Brydson goes back to at least 1830 and possibly to the 18th century.

Sykes Lee & Brydson was based in York and Acomb but the leases on both the offices have now expired. It previously employed 29 people. Thirteen of these have joined Ware & Kay, which now has a total of 66 staff and five partners.

Six staff from Sykes Lee & Brydson moved to a legal aid firm, two left for new employment and eight were made redundant, Ware & Kay confirmed. Peter Joslin, previously senior partner with Sykes Lee & Brydson, is now a consultant at Ware & Kay.

Mr Kay said: "The primary driving force behind the merger was a shared desire to increase the legal services from which both sets of clients could benefit.

"As a larger firm our business clients benefit from a much broader range of expertise, including corporate, commercial and employment teams, an extensive litigation and dispute resolution capability and the addition of niche know-how in fields like mediation. The families and individuals we serve will also benefit greatly with the availability of an expanded number of wills and probate solicitors, conveyancing solicitors, and a larger number of family lawyers.

"In analysing our collective strengths, objectives and the needs of our clients the merger between Ware & Kay and Sykes Lee & Brydson seemed the most natural step forward. We believe that Sykes Lee & Brydson complements Ware & Kay and together we can offer an exciting and fresh approach to legal services within York, Wetherby and the wider Yorkshire region."

Mr Joslin said: "The news has given a huge boost to the team, who are delighted to now be part of such a progressive and successful larger practice."

Ware & Kay said that it wishes to achieve the integration of new staff as quickly as possible, while it also plans to achieve greater productivity through the use of technology.

The firm last year merged with P J Lawrence of Slingsby, but it said that there are no plans at this time to merge again as it has now achieved full capacity in its existing premises.

The 13 staff joining from Sykes Lee & Brydson are now based at Ware & Kay's York office.

Ware & Kay recently relocated its Wetherby office as part of its strategy to target new business opportunities.

It moved from the Manor House at North Street to The Aire Suite, Brunswick Court, Victoria Street, which means it is closer to the town centre.

Article from Yorkshire Post published on 2^nd July 2013. Please click here to read this article on Yorkshire Post website.

Published: July 2013