Milsted Langdon, the Bristol-based accountancy firm, has said more about its recently completed merger with fellow city practice Geoff Gollop & Co.
Under the deal, which was signed and sealed on 31 May, all Geoff Gollop & Co staff and clients have transferred to Milsted Langdon’s offices on Redcliff Street. Geoff Gollop himself is a well-known figure in the city, being the current deputy lord mayor as well as an elected local councillor. He has joined the firm as a director.
Roger Isaacs, partner at Milsted Langdon, said: “There is strong cultural fit between Milsted Langdon and Gollop, both in terms of our respective internal values and how we look to engage with and support our clients. It’s very much a personal, partner-led approach we have, and that was what we found at Gollop too. It helped the deal to come together easily and should be reassuring for Gollop’s clients in what remains a challenging market.”
Geoff Gollop added: “In looking for a merger partner for the firm, I wanted to ensure clients continued to receive the same good service, even if my civic duties mean I will be less involved day-to-day. Merging with a larger firm like Milsted Langdon, with the same values but a few more specialisms to offer, made perfect sense for the firm and for our clients.”
The deal came together in less than a month, with the legals for Gollop handled by Jonathan Poole of the Bristol law firm Temple Bright and Gregg Latchams acting for Milsted Langdon.
Temple Bright’s Poole said: “We were able to pull this deal together very quickly thanks to the similar values of the two firms and the constructive and collaborative approach taken by both sides. It all bodes well for the newly enlarged firm, with all Gollop staff having already completed the transition into Milsted Langdon’s offices. Completing all the legal side of the deal in three weeks also meant there was minimal disruption to clients on either side of the transaction, which is just how you want it.”
Tim Summers, Temple Bright’s co-founder, said: “These kind of Bristol deals, involving strong local firms and backed by local expertise, are part of what makes the city tick. We are delighted to have played a part in getting the merger over the line so quickly.”
Milsted Langdon has three other offices locally besides Bristol, in Bath, Taunton and Yeovil, and the firm now has 17 partners.
Geoff Gollop, front left, and Milsted Langdon's Roger Isaacs, front right, with some of the team
