Slater & Gordon managing director Andrew Grech has made it clear he will expect Keddies staff joining the firm to adhere to Slater & Gordons standards. “This deal represents a fresh line in the sand for Keddies and a new way of operating,” Grech told ALB. 

Keddies has come under fire in recent years for alleged professional misconduct. Keddies' partners Russell Keddie, Tony Barakat and Scott Roulstone are reportedly facing disciplinary action by the Legal Services Commissioner in relation to accusations of overcharging a woman they represented following a bus crash which left her a paraplegic. The same women is also pursuing Keddies  in the NSW Supreme Court, where she is alleging that Keddies charged her almost 10 times what was reasonable for a case which never reached a court hearing.

Slater & Gordon announced earlier today (October 25) that it would be acquiring the Sydney-based personal injury firm for A$35m. “We have had discussions on and off for a long period of time,” said Grech. “We have made our strategy of growth in this space very clear. So people who share that vision are attracted to our model – I think given the succession planning issues there was interest from Keddies in joining a bigger law firm.” 

A number of senior legal practitioners will be staying on once the acquisition is complete, and have chosen to take equity in Slater & Gordon, which represents a significant long term investment by them, said Grech. The deal is expected to finalised by the end of November for a January implementation. “Because of the depth of due diligence we have taken already, I don’t expect there to be any problems. It will be a clean start to the year for all,” he said.

Keddies employs between 80 and 90 staff across its offices. 

Related stories:

Slater & Gordon to acquire Keddies Lawyers in A$35m deal 26 october 2010

Slater & Gordon strikes again in South West Sydney 9 September 2010