Dispute consultant James R Knowles is cutting some UK offices to form a smaller core of regional centres.

Chairman Roger Knowles said he expected the number of offices to fall from 17 to 10 over the next 12 to 18 months.

Knowles emphasised that the office restructure would not lead to job losses. He said: “We are trying to make the staff operate more efficiently.” He said the group planned to expand its services in the regions outside London to include representation and legal advice.

It also plans to expand its overseas operation; the group has 12 offices in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Knowles said the firm’s vision was to create a global group providing a cradle-to-grave consultancy service.

The firm’s annual pre-tax profit more than doubled in the year to 31 July, jumping 138% to £1.3m.

Turnover increased by 11% to £26.9m.

Knowles predicted more growth in the next year through the office shake-up, European expansion and increased workload from adjudication, loss adjusting and other legal services.