Seventh heaven as Birketts opens office in Bristol

05 Jun, 2024
Newsdesk
Law firm Birketts has opened an office in Bristol – an engineering soulmate of Cambridge. Superchip architect Arm recently did the same and Bristol-based chip company Graphcore also has bases in both cities.
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Birketts Chief Executive, Jonathan Agar. Image courtesy of Birketts.

Bristol will be Birketts’ seventh office, adding to the firm’s physical bases in London, Sevenoaks, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, and Norwich.

Birketts has operated a ‘hub’ in Bristol since January 2021, which has acted as a collaborative space for its South West-based Partners and lawyers.

In line with the firm’s growth strategy and reflecting the dynamic South West economy, the firm will establish a full-service presence in Bristol in autumn 2024, providing business and private client services across the region, as well as in the UK and internationally.

The firm will be based in EQ – a pioneering office development located in the heart of Bristol, just a short walk from Temple Meads train station. EQ is the first new build office in Bristol which has committed to deliver Net Zero Carbon in operation, in accordance with the UK Green Building Council’s framework approach.

The five Partners leading the firm’s Bristol practice are: Tom Berisford (Banking and Finance); Deborah Carrivick (International Private Client), Stuart Cleak (Real Estate Renewables), Dan Crockford and Alex Penberthy (Shipping and International Trade).

These Partners are joined by seven lawyers: Legal Directors Clarissa Dumolo and Jane Johnson, Senior Associates Oliver Evans and Joanna Mansel, Associate Mark Brookman, Solicitor Markella Papadopoulou, Trainee Legal Executive Jade Urbanski, and three Business Services professionals: Gabbie Hazzell, Kate Jenkins, and Jazz Gee.

The office will have a strong sector focus, including financial institutions, insurance, private wealth, renewables and clean energy, agribusiness, and shipping & international trade.

Jonathan Agar, Chief Executive at Birketts said: “The opening of our Bristol office is a key step in Birketts’ growth trajectory and will further expand our network of offices in southern England.

“Our hub has been extremely successful and has laid the foundations for the introduction of our brand of Next Level Law to the South West. The feedback from clients in Bristol has made it crystal clear how much potential there is for the firm to operate competitively from an established office in the city, and we look forward to being able to provide both new and existing clients a more comprehensive legal service from our new location.”

Bristol-based Partner Deborah Carrivick said Birketts would be “very interested to speak to anyone about joining us as we embark on the next chapter in our exciting growth story.”