Irwin Mitchell acquires Berkeley Law

The Irwin Mitchell group has completed the acquisition of private wealth specialists, Berkeley Law.

Berkeley Law is a Mayfair-based firm with an emphasis on providing wealth management services to high-net-worth private clients.

Irwin Mitchell hopes the acquisition will allow the group to expand further into London and diversify its range of services for clients with complex financial affairs in the UK and abroad.

Andrew Tucker, pictured, Irwin Mitchell group's chief executive commented: "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."

The purchase marks the group's sixth acquisition since it became an alternative business structure (ABS) in 2012, and has recently opened new offices in Cambridge and Southampton.

Berkeley Law partner, Nick Rucker said: "The Berkeley Law group of companies is committed to being the legal and wealth advisory business of choice for high net worth individuals both in the UK and abroad. We have been approached by many other suitors but Irwin Mitchell was by far and away the most creative, entrepreneurial and innovative business we have talked to. They share a vision to build an independent, legally-led wealth business driven by the needs of its clients, not by those who would be serving them.

"Irwin Mitchell understands better than any other how the legal industry in the UK is changing and crucially also has expertise managing and running complementary businesses that are not law firms. This was to prove decisive in our choice to commit the future of the firm that we and our employees have built to the stewardship of Irwin Mitchell."

Berkeley Law's range of services includes international estate planning, trust advice, taxation, probate and estate administration and asset protection, amongst others.

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.

Binyamin Ali is assistant editor of Private Client Adviser