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Blake Morgan creates a fresh legal powerhouse in the Thames Valley


In July, the Thames Valley will gain a new legal services powerhouse when the Blake Morgan name is launched, writes John Burbedge.


Blake Morgan is the firm being created by the agreed merger of Blake Lapthorn and Morgan Cole, announced in March.


The scale of Blake Morgan can be gauged by its combined annual turnover of £72 million and workforce of approximately 900, including 120 partners.


Its scope is clear from the geographic spread of its seven offices within the capital cities of London and Cardiff and the vibrant commercial hubs of Reading, Southampton, Oxford, Portsmouth, and Swansea.


Not forgetting a spread of legal skills, knowledge and experience that will enable an ambitious Blake Morgan to operate more effectively nationally as a true full service firm.


The merger has come at a time when legal sector consolidation is on many firms’ agendas, with the move to scale or speciality often the nub of discussion.


The Blake Morgan merger has actually achieved something of both. While creating one of the largest legal firms in the Thames Valley (its centrally-located Reading office will have 75 staff) Blake Morgan has brought together expertise in areas such as regulatory, public sector, development, construction, banking, finance, health and social care, social housing, and central, local and devolved government (Wales).


One key reason for the merger appears to be Blake Morgan’s desire to create a legal service platform that befits the varied requirements of modern clients.


Admitting that the legal sector is now more competitive than ever before in his 33-year Blake


Merger adds up to larger independent accountancy firm in M40 corridor


Two top accountancy practices have merged to create one of the biggest independent accountancy firms spanning the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire M40 corridor.


Banbury-based Whitley Stimpson LLP and the Bicester- based Baxter Payne & Haigh, have merged. The Whitley Stimpson Banbury and High Wycombe offices will retain their existing name but under a new limited company structure and the Bicester office will be known as BPH Whitley Stimpson.


Malcolm Higgs, director at Whitley Stimpson, said: “This is a very exciting time and opens up a new world of opportunities for our clients and ourselves.


“The reputation for excellence already commanded by Baxter Payne & Haigh combined with complementary skills and


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experience in specialist sectors will significantly strengthen our business offering, which already provides a wealth of benefits to existing clients.


“The merger is a meeting of minds in both business and cultural terms with the crossover in practice areas making Baxter Payne & Haigh the perfect fit.


I


am confident that by coming together we will be creating a firm with a wider portfolio of services.


“We are now one of the biggest firms on the M40 stretch providing a serious, heavyweight alternative to businesses and high-net-worth individuals based in London.”


Stephen Payne, director at BPH Whitley Stimpson, said: “Whitley Stimpson has a rich heritage and shares our approach to business. We have always


The company directors


ensured the firm’s growth is built on integrity, objectivity and technical excellence with an emphasis on providing strategic advice that will benefit our clients’ bottom line.”


Whitley Stimpson has provided financial advice to businesses and individuals for more than 80 years and has seen many existing clients from early days as start-ups through to achieving multi-million pound success.


Whitley Stimpson first extended its services into Buckinghamshire in 2010 following a merger with Hale


Partnership based in High Wycombe. The latest expansion is supported by a rebrand to harness together shared core values, expertise in niche areas and complementary client profiles.


This new merger with Baxter Payne & Haigh enhances business growth, bolsters a strong team of specialists and extends the firm’s reach into Oxford and along the M40 corridor.


In addition to


traditional accountancy services, the new practice specialises in agriculture, medicine and academy schools.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2014


Lapthorn career, managing partner Walter Cha explained: “It is all about being able and prepared to adapt to the needs of today’s clients.


“We are living in a changing and challenging legal landscape. Clients are becoming increasingly sophisticated, as to what they want from lawyers and the way that their services are delivered.


“They like to have people working with them who not only have the right legal skills, but also a 21st century mindset, technology infrastructure and flexibility. Firms today need to fully understand their client’s business, and be robust in skills and their depth of resources in order to be able to cover their workload regardless of any peaks. Blake Morgan will be able to do that.”


Cha will be Blake Morgan’s managing partner, while Elizabeth Carr, currently


managing partner of Morgan Cole, will become chief operating officer of Blake Morgan. The two firms are well known to each other, and even share some clients.


Blake Morgan’s enhanced and more attractive service offering has also been achieved with limited disruption, the business ‘jigsaw pieces’ of the merger being fairly complementary.


Staffing will be combined at the dual Oxford and Reading offices, says Cha, but adds: “As with any merger there is usually a degree of rationalisation required, but this will be kept to the minimum. After all, we have brought together our various skills and experience in order to build upon them.”


Cha has ample experience in handling mergers, with their inherent logistical and culture issues. During his time at Blake Lapthorn, he has overseen four mergers: 2001 with Sherwin Oliver (Portsmouth); 2003 with Linnells (Oxford); and 2006 with White & Bowker (Winchester) and Tarlo Lyons (London).


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