Law firms come together to pool 250 years of experience

Two well-known South Devon law firms have celebrated a merger in style.
Kitsons and Boyce Hatton LLP have joined forces to combine over 250 years of legal excellence.
And now Kitson Boyce have been recognised in the Times Best Law Firms for its expertise in insolvency and restructuring across England and Wales.
The firms say the recent merger will build upon their histories of delivering outstanding client service and trusted advice to companies and individuals across the South West.
Kitson Boyce will have four offices, in Exeter, Plymouth and Totnes, alongside the head office in Torquay. The combined firm will have 20 partners, as well as over 30 other legal professionals.
Rhodri Davey, Managing Partner at Kitsons, will serve as Managing Partner of the new firm. Kate Barton, Boyce Hatton’s current Managing Partner, will join the leadership team and Cris Boyce will join the Corporate and Commercial team as Partner. Partners from both Kitsons and Boyce Hatton will sit on the Board, ensuring representation across the two firms on decision-making and strategic planning.
The merger is driven by a shared belief that the two firms, deeply rooted in the South West and sharing similar cultures, can leverage their complementary strengths to offer an even broader spectrum of services to clients.
Mr Davey said: “We are excited to share the news that Kitsons and Boyce Hatton have merged into one unified business. This positive step will facilitate enhanced services for all our clients, and is part of a strong and combined growth strategy.
“Partners across both firms share the same vision and values, and we are equally proud of the people, clients and culture we have nurtured and supported over the years.”
At the core of the new firm's identity lies an unwavering dedication to people, with both Kitsons and Boyce Hatton taking great pride in the calibre of employees, the excellence of their legal advice, and their shared reputation for outstanding client service.
Ms Barton said: “We're thrilled to be joining forces to create Kitson Boyce. This merger represents an exciting opportunity to propel our firm to new heights, and reinforces our commitment to excellence and innovation.
“Our shared vision is clear: to build a stronger organisation that benefits not only our valued clients but also offers unparalleled growth prospects for our talented team. Together, we will be better equipped to navigate the evolving legal landscape, and offer an even higher level of service and expertise.”
The Times Best Law Firm is compiled by The Times and independent market research company Statista based on a survey of over 4,000 solicitors and barristers in England and Wales, and lists the top 250 legal practices for business, public and private-client law in England and Wales and the top 20 in Scotland.
Kitson Boyce’s Insolvency and Restructuring team is recognised across the South West for its value driven advice in all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency. The team also acts for and advises lenders in recovering losses arising from terminated loan agreements, commercial landlords in respect of delinquent tenants and insolvency issues and individual directors subject to insolvency and/or disqualification proceedings.
Andrew Pay, partner and head of Dispute Resolution and Insolvency, said: “I’m incredibly proud that our Insolvency and Restructuring team has been recognised in this prestigious list – it’s testament to our commitment to excellence and client service, and the fantastic work we do for our clients.
“This is a very exciting time for Kitson Boyce and I’m looking forward to seeing what the year ahead brings as we continue to grow and expand the team.”