South coast: Bicknell Sanders accountants merges with Taylorcocks

The corporate team at south coast law firm Coffin Mew LLP has advised chartered accountants Taylorcocks on its merger with the accountancy business of Bicknell Sanders.

Bicknell Sanders partners, Nigel Bicknell and Bedford Lloyd, and their 13 staff have relocated to Taylorcocks’ Farnham office at Abbey House on South Street, Farnham.

Bicknell Sanders was established in 1971 and offers a range of accountancy, tax and audit services.

TGS Taylorcocks is an Accountancy Age ‘Top 100’ firm of chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers. Established in 1992, it now has 10 directors and over 100 employees. It provides accountancy, tax, audit and business advisory services to approximately 2,500 clients across central southern England and is a founder member of TGS Global, the worldwide accountancy and legal network of independent firms.

Both firms are members of the ICAEW and The Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Ian Cocks, managing director of Taylorcocks, said: “In line with our growth plans, we continue to look at merging with or acquiring other firms where we can see a good fit and a complementary client base. I am delighted that Bicknell Sanders has decided to join forces with us, to create a dynamic upscaled local presence which meets the needs of SMEs in and around Farnham.”

Nigel Bicknell, founding partner of Bicknell Sanders, concurred: “Our merger with Taylorcocks gives our clients access to additional specialist expertise and resource. We will also benefit from Taylorcocks’ leading edge technology platforms to deliver our services rapidly and reliably. We are looking forward with great optimism to working with Ian and his team.”

Legal advice on the transaction was provided to Taylorcocks by Nick Gross and Jamie Earley of Coffin Mew LLP, who are based at the firm’s Lakeside office.

Gross said: “I have worked with Taylorcocks closely over the years and so we were delighted to have assisted them with this exciting acquisition. As with any professional services acquisition there were some complex issues to consider, but our firm’s experience in this sector meant that we were able to complete the transaction in an efficient way. I wish Taylorcocks every success with the acquisition and look forward to the next one.”