Irwin Mitchell acquires Mayfair firm
IRWIN Mitchell, headquartered in Sheffield, has acquired Mayfair-based Berkeley Law, a specialist in wealth advice for high-net-worth individuals in the UK and overseas.
Berkeley Law began trading in 2010 and Irwin Mitchell’s group chief executive Andrew Tucker said the move would enable the group to expand its range of services for clients with complex financial affairs in the UK and abroad.
The news marks the sixth acquisition by the group since it became an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) in 2012 and comes in a year in which it has also launched IMe Law, an ABS venture with FTSE250 insurer esure, and opened two new regional offices.
The Berkeley Law acquisition will now add two further offices in Mayfair and Kensington to Irwin Mitchell’s existing base in the City.
Tucker said: “This is an important strategic acquisition for us and one which will enable us to broaden the range of services our experts on complex financial matters can currently offer, while enabling Berkeley Law to offer its clients access to a wider range of quality services through both our personal and business legal services divisions.
“Berkeley Law has a very strong reputation in the marketplace and shares our focus on providing market-leading client care and innovative services.
“This is a deal which works for both businesses and the Berkeley Law team will be an excellent addition to our existing team, expanding still further the unique diversity and quality of the specialist services we offer to both private and business clients.”
Berkeley Law and its separate residential property and conveyancing business, Berkeley Hurrell, will retain their names and will continue trading from their respective offices in Mayfair and Kensington as ABSs but will be part of Irwin Mitchell Holdings.
As part of this transaction directors Nick Rucker, Alex Ruffel and Tim Thornton Jones become partners in Irwin Mitchell.
Berkeley Law’s range of services includes international estate planning, trust advice, taxation, probate and estate administration and asset protection.
The latest acquisition by Irwin Mitchell is the sixth by the firm since it became an ABS in 2012 and the third in the past 12 months, building on the acquisition of Manchester-based personal injury specialists MPH Solicitors in November 2013 and debt legal services firm HL Interactive, again in Manchester, in March.
The firm has also opened two regional offices as part of its regional expansion plans in the UK, with Southampton launching in April and Cambridge opening in June.
It also confirmed that it had secured a £60m finance package with three major banks, with a further £30m ‘accordion’ facility if required to fund further expansion.
