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Overview

The West Midlands comprises Birmingham and the surrounding counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

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Regional review

Birmingham’s confidence has been knocked badly over the past year. 60% of the FTSE automobiles and parts sector issued profit warnings in 2008, and the majority of those came from the West Midlands. It is no secret either that manufacturing, the the bread and butter for Midlands-based law firms, has suffered over the past few months with JCB and Waterford Wedgford being the headline cases.

Wragge & Co LLP traditionally does well in a downturn, but in common with many national firms it has had to restructure to maintain profitability. Its strong showing in contentious areas, particularly commercial litigation and IP, should protect it from the worst effects of the recession.

DLA Piper UK LLP’s signature corporate finance practice held up well in 2008, advising on £2bn worth of deals, and its experience in restructuring gives it a good competitive edge in the current climate.

Real estate, a historically strong area for Eversheds LLP, has taken a battering in recent months, but the firm continues to hold its place at the top of the market and it is also well placed to advise on property restructurings. In that context the retirement of insolvency head Louise Pheasant is a real blow.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s strong public sector hedge is enviable in the current climate; something of a counter-cyclical specialist, it also boasts strength in commercial litigation, competition and education. The firm’s decision to relocate insolvency head Alastair Lomax from Manchester gives it added firepower in the region.

Hammonds LLP had a good 2008, with strong headline transactions recorded by its corporate, restructuring, and banking and finance teams. However, the retirement of litigation head Ann Benzimra and the move of corporate partner Amanda Allen to a finance boutique were real setbacks.

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s high-volume model has stood it in good stead and it continues to be a profitable insurance outfit. In 2009 it expanded its business offering in Birmingham through the hire of a ten-strong team from BPE Solicitors; the team includes three partners and spans corporate, insolvency, commercial and property. BPE Solicitors has closed its Birmingham office.

Birmingham stalwart Martineau continues to stand out for its strength in the education and energy sectors, while HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP’s banking relationships continue to drive the firm forward.

Shoosmiths has worked hard to ramp up its contentious offering. Most notably, James Keates’ arrival from HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP has really given the firm confidence on the restructuring side.

Shakespeare Putsman LLP had some good hires over the past year. The arrivals of Mauro Paiano from Cobbetts LLP and Andrew Hartshorn from Pinsent Masons LLP look to make the firm a real contender for IP and IT work.

Also worthy of mention, Capsticks opened an office in Birmingham in December 2008 and should make a strong play on the health side, while in January 2009, the Midlands office of Reed Smith decided to go it alone and formed breakaway boutique Hill Hofstetter LLP. Also, in 2009 trade union specialist Rowley Ashworth was acquired by Thompsons.

Outside Birmingham, the big news was the May 2008 merger between fbc Solicitors and Manby Steward Bowdler to create FBC Manby Bowdler LLP.

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