Smith Cooper unveils Leicester shake-up
Midlands accountancy firm Smith Cooper has demerged its Leicester insolvency and corporate practice and is set to unveil a new office in the city, Insider has learned. Managing director Chris Taylor said the move "made sense" for the business.
Taylor revealed that Smith Cooper has been quick to replace its Leicester presence by buying an office in the city which will provide financial services advice.
He told Insider: "Our Leicester office concentrated on insolvency business only and largely operated independently of the rest of the firm. The office joined us from another practice some years ago but was never fully integrated. It just makes sense for the businesses to be separate."
John Harlow, formerly a partner in Smith Cooper, has taken over the Leicester arm of the business and will continue at the New Walk premises. The office will be re-branded John Harlow Insolvency & Corporate Recovery.
All staff located at the New Walk office have transferred to the new business, Smith Cooper confirmed.
Taylor said: "John will be ploughing his own furrow as an independent insolvency advisor but we will cooperate whenever the opportunity arises."
He confirmed that Dean Nelson would now head the firm's insolvency and corporate recovery service, and that the demerger would have a neutral effect on the company’s bottom line.
Smith Cooper has nine offices in the Midlands including offices in Ashbourne, Buxton, Derby, Alfreton, Birmingham, Burton-upon-Trent, Ilkeston and Nottingham.
Earlier this month the firm promoted Michael Roome and David Crump to director level within the business recovery and insolvency and corporate finance teams respectively.
Roome has 15 years’ experience of working in the business recovery and insolvency market and joined the firm in June 2010 having spent seven years with Deloitte.
He was also heavily involved in securing the sale of Ilkeston Town Football Club late last year.
Crump joined Smith Cooper’s corporate finance division in 2005, where he has advised on transactions for owner-managed businesses and mid-sized corporates.
