Law firm Birketts has opened an office in Bristol as it expands its presence across the South of England. It is the seventh UK site for the company and its first in the South West.
The legal practice, which has operated a hub in Bristol since January 2021, first announced plans for a permanent base in the city in June. The firm already has offices in London, Sevenoaks, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, and Norwich.
Birketts will provide business and private client legal services from its new base within the EQ building, near Temple Meads train station.
Chief executive Jonathan Agar said: “It is clear from the success of our Bristol hub that Birketts can play a vital role for clients in the city and South West.
“With a strong legal services offering across a number of sectors for which Bristol is renowned, Birketts is well placed to play a prominent role in supporting those businesses that make Bristol and the South West such an interesting and varied region.”
The Birketts Bristol office will have a strong sector focus, including financial institutions, insurance, private wealth, renewables and clean energy, agribusiness, and shipping and international trade. The company has five partners in Bristol but said it expected to grow its presence in the city further.
Deborah Carrivick, head of the international private client team based in Bristol, said: “The Bristol team at Birketts has lived and worked in the city for many years. That understanding of the local area, combined with Birketts’ national and international track-record and expertise will be valuable to our clients and potential clients in Bristol.”
EQ is Bristol’s first new office aiming to be net zero carbon in operation in accordance with the UK Green Building Council’s framework approach. Birketts said its choice of building reflected its own sustainability commitments. The firm has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.