BLM forms commercial advisory offering with hire of 33-lawyer team
BLM is to launch a business advisory offering with the hire of a 33-lawyer team from Slater & Gordon, aiming to providing a wider range of services to companies, public sector bodies, charities and individuals.
The team, which includes 11 partners, joined BLM today (2 October). It comprises:
- Four lawyers who advise on company and corporate law, intellectual property, and information and communication technology;
- Fifteen commercial real estate lawyers with non-contentious expertise;
- Four employment lawyers; and
- Ten commercial litigation lawyers.
The new lawyers will form a Commercial Advisory business stream at BLM, which will be headed by new partner Stephen Lintott. The team of lawyers will be spread across the firm’s Manchester and London locations.
BLM Senior Partner Mike Brown said: “This is an exciting step for BLM as we continue to broaden our offering. We’ve made no secret of the fact that we want to diversify into additional areas of law which complement our core insurance offering. Part of our strategy is to expand the range of services that we can offer to our customers. Therefore, being joined by the new team is entirely in line with that strategy. We’re excited to be able to offer new services to our existing clients, as well as seek opportunities to develop some completely new clients.”
Brown added: “We have engaged in discussions with Slater & Gordon for quite some time. We knew they were making plans to restructure their business to focus on core consumer services and we were seriously exploring our diversification strategy. It is a logical move for both businesses. The Slater & Gordon team wanted to move to us and we are delighted they chose to do so, we’re really looking forward to the team joining us. “
He said that for the avoidance of doubt BLM had not acquired the personal injury business of Slater & Gordon, which remains with them.