Birmingham law firm Wragge & Co has won a top industry award just days after it announced the opening of a new office in Abu Dhabi.
The Colmore Row based-firm, which has 117 equity partners and 489 lawyers operating from six offices, has been crowned commercial team of the year at the 2010 British Legal Awards for its involvement in a ground-breaking healthcare sector first - the competitive acquisition of an entire NHS Trust.
Wragge was involved in the acquisition of Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership NHS Trust (BLPT) by South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
The deal came after all NHS trusts in the East of England were given a deadline of December 2010 to achieve Foundation Trust status.
Organised by Legal Week, the British Legal Awards celebrate the achievements of firms, teams and individuals in the legal profession.
In news further afield the firm has opened on office operating under the name Wragge & Co Legal Consultants, as a result of a joint venture with local lawyer Mohamed Al Mehairi and the relocation of city projects partner Jane Pittaway.
Al Mehairi has taken the role of chairman and senior partner in the new outfit, while Ms Pittaway has been appointed as managing partner.
Senior partner Quentin Poole said: “We’ve been doing an increasing amount of work in the Middle East for some time now, to the point that it was really starting to necessitate a presence on the ground.
“Our approach to opening international offices is very much focused on ensuring we are empathetic with the local culture, and securing Mohamed allows us to establish an office with local ties, contacts and sensitivities already in place.
“We will be looking to grow the office to around 10 fee earners in the next 12-18 months.”
