Birketts to use London office as “springboard” to expand globally

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Birketts LLP, a full-service law firm with office locations across the East of England, London and the South East, eyes plans to develop its international practice by using its City office as a “springboard”.

The firm’s London office, which opened four years ago, has expanded from 15 people to 85, with partner Mark Pinder explaining that while the firm “could have grown quicker” given the demand for people wanting to join, “we’re trying to keep it sensible”.

Pinder discussed the firm’s market position in London with CITY AM as part of its Eyes on the Law weekly column: “We are basically operating the same financial model here as we do outside London, so that means we’re incredibly cost effective.”

He added that the firm isn’t pretending to be “another London competitor”.

Considering the international expansion, Pinder cited the West Coast of the US as a “great interest” for the firm’s technology group, explaining that it’ll be keeping its focus narrow “because you can’t spread yourself too wide”.

Pinder started at Birketts in time for the opening of its London office as part of the firm’s merger with EC3 Legal – a boutique insurance firm. Prior to joining Birketts, he’d spent 12 years at international law firm Bird & Bird and led the launch of its Middle East operations in the United Arab Emirates. He’d also worked at Sidley Austin LLP – one of the world’s largest law firms – Travers Smith LLP, and Slaughter and May.

During his conversation with CITY AM, he said: “It is a really interesting development for the firm and I think it’s helping establish the name as being something more than an East of England regional law firm, which I think four years ago was how it was seen.”