Law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has acted on the merger of two accountancy and business advisory firms.
Moore South, which has five offices in Chichester, Guildford, the Isle of Wight, Salisbury and Southampton, has merged with Moore Kingston Smith, a multi-disciplinary professional services firm with more than 120 partners and 1,600 people across the UK and Ireland.
Both practices sat within the Moore UK network previously with the merger including Moore South’s 92 staff, including 13 partners.
Moore South advises individuals and entrepreneurs through each stage of the business lifecycle, with a core focus on owner-managed businesses.
The deal, which is Moore Kingston Smith’s tenth strategic investment since receiving PE backing, represents a significant expansion into the South of England.
The team at national law firm Clarke Willmott advised the partners of Moore South and was led by partner and head of the corporate team, Kelvin Balmont, and associate Marc Shevlin.
Kelvin Balmont said: “We are delighted to have acted on this successful merger of Moore South and Moore Kingston Smith. As long-term partners and associates the two firms were confident in the alignment of the businesses and their shared values.
“The deal required close collaboration between all parties and careful navigation of complex considerations. The end result is a significant milestone for both firms and we look forward to seeing the inevitable growth and enhanced client services.”
Danielle Griffin, managing partner of Moore South, added: “We’ve been collaborative partners with Moore Kingston Smith for many years, which speaks to our shared priority of understanding our clients’ needs.
“By merging, we can further support our clients in achieving their goals, providing them with streamlined and integrated access to Moore Kingston Smith’s range of specialist services, while maintaining the close, longstanding relationships we have with local businesses.”
Sue Lucas, chair of Moore South, said: “We were impressed with the professionalism, expertise and commitment shown by the whole team at Clarke Willmott and would not hesitate to recommend them. Thank you.”
