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Exclusive: Withers to merge with Speechly Bircham
22 March 2013
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14

RollOnFriday can exclusively reveal that Withers and Speechly Bircham are to announce their merger on Monday.

On the face of it the tie up makes sense. Speechlys have around 90 partners, Withers 100, and their profits per equity partner are almost identical at £383,000 and £384,000.

Given the number of leaks in the market at the moment, the firms have done a remarkable job in keeping the merger secret right up until (almost) the final hurdle. The new outfit (Withered Birch LLP?) will have 1,300 staff worldwide. Both are powerhouses in private client work, and (once they've got to grips with the inevitable conflicts) the merger should have the likes of Farrers running terrified...

    The new firm

A spokesman for Withers said that the firm wouldn't comment, and a spokeswoman from Speechlys said she would get back to us. More to follow next week after the announcement.


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anonymous user
22/03/2013 13:14
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31
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Great scoop RoF! Keep the Lawyer and Legal Week on their toes!
anonymous user
22/03/2013 14:07
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-2
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Great self congratulation pretending to be a reader, RoF! (Also, nice scoop).
anonymous user
22/03/2013 14:23
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17
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To anon at 14.07, I really am just a reader, (not a lawyer either). In fact, been meaning to say that RoF seems to out-scoop the main legal papers more and more these days. Keep it up. Perhaps the old legal press has had its day...?
anonymous user
22/03/2013 17:16
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7
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All very well leaking it - but have you considered the impact on the staff at these two organisations - are you sure they have announced things internally? Rubbish weekend ahead for them if it hasn't !!
anonymous user
22/03/2013 19:07
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Is Speechly's website down?
anonymous user
22/03/2013 20:39
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-5
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For someone who works at one of these firms, all I can say is you have given everyone a very uneasy and uncertain weekend worrying about what the out come is going to be. Well done you, you must be so proud of what you have achieved today. Maybe next time give a thought to the staff of these firms who will probably face the brunt of this merger. Well done and give yourself a big pat on the back!
anonymous user
22/03/2013 23:41
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As an employee of one of these firms I can honestly say its not great news but a fantastic leak. Well done ROF.

Hopefully this is the catalyst to improve in-house communication in these firms. Improve communication and leaks like this wouldn't exist or be harmful or cosidered toxic. Take heed withers and speechlys - communication is key.
anonymous user
23/03/2013 07:34
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Well said
anonymous user
23/03/2013 07:55
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Speechly Bircham is a sinking ship and has been for the past 12 months. We were informed lunchtime Friday by a panicked and rushed email from the Managing Partner saying that nothing has been decided. The email was only sent as a result of this article. Well done SB for treating staff as a top priority.
anonymous user
23/03/2013 09:26
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7
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Withers staff had a rushed out email as well saying exactly the same thing.
Panic amongst the Partnership at Conference do you think?
anonymous user
23/03/2013 15:00
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-11
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Re anon 07:55, not sure which department you're in, but it's not a sinking ship from my perspective. Agree an email post a press article isn't ideal but at what stage should staff be told?

As for the merger itself, not yet made my mind up but there are a hell of a lot worse firms out there than Withers

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