legal firm commences business on March 2 -- out of the same offices at Chancery Hall on Reid Street being vacated by the dissolving firm. But the new firm, Diel & Myers, will also be an opportunity for a young Bermudian lawyer, Christine Hoskins, based in the west end.

Diel & Myers senior partner, Mark Diel, said yesterday: "The new firm will provide a full range of legal services, including corporate and commercial services and advice, conveyancing, estate management and trusts, family law, litigation, public law, intellectual property and arbitration.

"Members of the firm are Ronnie Myers, John Cunningham and Graham Coxall, with Coles Diel QC and Walter Maddocks QC as consultants.

"I am pleased to announce that Christine Hoskins will be joining us as a partner and will continue to operate out of the Somerset office at 3 Mangrove Bay Road.'' Meanwhile, still considering her options is corporate attorney, Angela Berry, the most recently named partner at Smith, Barnard & Diel before its untimely demise. She said yesterday she had made no final decisions on her corporate future.

Another departing partner, Michael Smith, is joining forces with Sen. Larry Scott in the firm, Scott & Smith.

Richard Horseman will team up with former SB&D partner Joe Wakefield in a separate law firm at Chancery Hall.

At Diel & Myers, another interesting element will be the consultant work of Walter Maddocks. Mr. Maddocks is the Island's former Attorney General and spent many years with law firm, Conyers, Dill & Pearman. And like Coles Diel, he has wide spread international contacts.

Mr. Cunningham is strong in corporate administration and is perhaps the Island's foremost legal expert on intellectual property. He has been widely quoted on trademarks, service marks and copyrights.

Mr. Myers was formerly with the Attorney General's chambers and has been active in regulatory law, including matters related to telecommunications and planning. He worked closely with Mark Diel on the McDonald's case.

The niche practice established in Somerset by Ms Hoskins should be a good fit for the new firm.

Diel & Myers will be a city-based law firm that can offer service in a West End branch office; something new in the legal fraternity. Sandys Parish clients will continue to have access to Ms Hoskins, but as a partner in the new firm.

The two offices will be connected using modern computer and other business telecommunications links.

Mr. Coxall has served in London as a solicitor's clerk, and although assisting in some legal matters, will be responsible for a lot of the firm's administrative work.

Mr. Diel noted that there will be further additions to the firm, with details released at a later date.