Following a review the firm has announced its intentions to close the group, with a consultation with affected staff launching today.
One partner and five lawyers in the firm’s
The IPG was established in June 2006 in a bid to offer international legal advice to
Beachcroft senior partner Simon Hodson (pictured) commented: “We've looked critically at what our clients need from us to support their international operations and concluded that those needs are better served by strengthening our relationships with firms in Europe, the US, India and other countries, rather than growing an in-house team of international lawyers and working through them."
He added: “I have been overseeing a programme to build our international business through close alliances with firms that operate in our key markets and that work will guide our approach and investment decisions over the next few years.”
John Yates, the head of Beachcroft's technology sector group and a member of the commercial services practice team, where the IPG is based, commented: “Although we are unable to comment on the results of the planned closure programme as regards the lawyers affected, we will be undertaking discussions with IPG clients to determine the most appropriate way forward, which will vary depending on the nature of the work being undertaken.”
The IPG practice was initially headed by Nick Holland, who left for Eversheds last year and was replaced by Yates.