Four Robson Rhodes partners who quit the Cambridge office in July are to join Grant Thornton after falling out with Robsons’ head office in London.
Jeremy Francis, Keith Mitchell, John Corbishley and Simon Lowe departed from Robsons after rows over governance and increased capital contributions from the firm.
The Cambridge area is a strong fee earner due to the contribution of the biotechnology and farming sectors in the region. Grant Thornton would not give a start date for the partners but confirmed they would be joining the firm shortly.
Robson Rhodes revealed a new team led by Frank Attwood, previously in charge of Robsons’ London office, will be in place on 1 September. He will be supported by corporate finance partner Elaine Bell and Peter Buckler who will arrive from Robsons’ Bristol office to become audit partner.
A spokesman said the group objected to the direction the firm was going in. He disputed whether the exodus was over fee income and said ‘our income per partner is one of the highest.’