Legal duo mark launch of boutique firm with first acquisition

Two former Fieldfisher Manchester partners have marked the launch of their new venture with the acquisition of a majority stake in Manchester-based corporate law boutique Atticus.

Former Manchester head Matt Fleetwood and corporate partner Jim Truscott announced that they were leaving Fieldfisher in April to set up Beyond Professional Services Group.

Atticus, headed by serial dealmaker Kevin Philbin, has been re-branded under the Beyond banner, with Philbin assuming the role of executive chairman.

Completion of the deal with Atticus, investment in new technology and a targeted recruitment policy for the enlarged firm has given Beyond its first core business, focused on providing legal services to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial businesses.

The group will initially focus on the integration of the Atticus and Beyond teams, with new recruits already lined up to join the enlarged firm.

Further acquisitions of stakes in complementary businesses are planned, it said.

“Beyond is about a better way of delivering customer experience with a clear brand message,” says Truscott. “We’re starting out from a strong capital base and have invested significantly in technology and the ‘human capital’ side of the business, within a structure which is fit for purpose in a modern professional services environment.

“Atticus is a natural fit for us, with its approach to client service and long-term relationships. We talk the same language – serious lawyers who don’t take themselves too seriously.”

“The Atticus team has worked together for over 25 years,” says Philbin. “We have built an enviable reputation for giving great commercial advice to an established and loyal client base – but over time we felt that the firm had lost some essential spark. The team is staying together but becoming part of Beyond provides this spark. We will maintain our camaraderie and client focused spirit but in a forward thinking environment.”