Lawyer Monthly - December 2021 Edition

34 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | DEC 2021 HOW CAN YOU SUCCESSFULLY LEAD YOUR LAW FIRM THROUGH A MERGER? Founded in Newbury in 1895, the last decade has seen rapid growth for Gardner Leader as it has expanded beyond its West Berkshire roots. The acquisition of Heath Buckeridge in Maidenhead in 2014 kickstarted a period which has seen the firm treble in size. A London office was opened in 2019, and in 2021 a small acquisition in Windsor has been followed by a merger with the 16-strong team at Swindon-based corporate and commercial boutique firm Clark Holt, taking the firm’s headcount to around 175, with a combined turnover of £12 million. What is your business vision, and why does it matter? Our aim is to grow carefully and prudently so we can continue to attract the best people and offer high-quality services to clients, acknowledging that this comes with increasing cost in terms of investment in people, technology and other resources as well as the basic expense of running the business, such as insurance. It is not about growth for growth’s sake, but rather ensuring that we have the infrastructure and resources to enable us to be the kind of firm we want to be, staying independent and offering a realistic alternative to larger firms for both clients and staff. To make a success of that strategy, it has been essential to assess each merger opportunity carefully to make sure that it will help achieve those objectives and not be either a distraction or a dilution. We How Can You Successfully Lead Your Law Firm Through a Merger? Derek Rodgers Managing Partner Gardner Leader White Hart House, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BA Tel: +44 01635 508080 E: d.rodgers@gardner-leader.co.uk www.gardner-leader.co.uk With rising professional indemnity premiums and the additional challenges brought about by the pandemic, the trend towards further consolidation in the legal services sector is only likely to continue to gather pace. Derek Rodgers, managing partner of Gardner Leader solicitors, reflects on his experience of growing his firm through mergers and acquisitions. Derek Rodgers has been the managing partner of Gardner Leader since 2011, having joined as a partner in 2005. Prior to taking on this role, he was an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with expertise in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, general company and commercial law and employment. Gardner Leader provides a range of services for businesses and services for individuals, including commercial, corporate, dispute resolution, residential property and conveyancing, inheritance protection and family law. During Derek Rodgers’ tenure as managing partner, the firm has doubled in size since 2012. Gardner Leader has also been a member of LawNet, a group of over 60 independent law firms committed to quality and excellence, for over 25 years. It is almost a cliché to say that culture is key, but it is true.