Professional and Financial Services Sector

Legal Sector

Strong Overall Offer

Birmingham represents a credible destination for UK legal firms seeking expansion opportunities:

• Large existing fee base: in excess of £500 million in fee income is generated by Birmingham's legal sector
• Established base from which to expand: 40% of this fee income is derived from clients outside the region
• Best future growth prospects: employment in professional and financial services in greater Birmingham increased by 37% between 1995 and 2001. This was above regional (29.8%) and national (32.7%) levels; and is forecast to grow another 39% by 2015
• Depth of legal talent:
  • 3,500 solicitors and 500 barristers work in Birmingham.
  • A total of 17,000 people are employed in Birmingham's 900+ legal firms.
  • Birmingham also now has the UK's largest branch of the College of Law (520 students enrolled)
• Connected professional community: Birmingham boasts the largest professional and financial services sector outside London; the two largest sets of barrister's chambers in the country; and local law society. 50 major property firms. One of Europe's largest insurance markets.

The sound business case for Birmingham is illustrated by the number of firms that have moved and expanded their practices over the past few years to join Birmingham's strong legal sector, including:

• • Mills and Reeve
  • Shoosmiths
  • Heatons
  • Harvey Ingram LLP
  • Bevan Ashford
  • Cobbetts
  • Alexander Harris
  • Robin Simon

Centre of Legal Excellence

The Birmingham legal market remains as vibrant and competitive as ever, attracting some of the UK's leading firms.  Birmingham's legal sector has always been strong, home to the country's largest local law society; largest set of barristers' chambers in the country; and the newest branch of the College of Law.  Local firms are able to find all the support they need right on their doorstep.

A swathe of firms reported impressive gains in turnover throughout the year as the key drivers - corporate and commercial property - held up well in the face of any impending downturn. For clients, it all means a high level of service at competitive rates. Clients also enjoy the benefits ensuing from the national practices of four firms in the Birmingham market, namely Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, DLA and Hammonds. One firm that has resolutely maintained Birmingham as its principal base, and remains the region's leading practise is Wragge & Co., a 539 strong fee earning legal giant.

The UK Legal 500 recommends the following as the West Midland's regional heavyweight firms in terms of size, resources, quantity and quality of work: 

Group 1     Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham

Group 2     DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham; Eversheds LLP Birmingham; Pinsent Masons Birmingham

Group 3     Hammonds Birmingham

Firms are listed in groups in order of priority, and alphabetically within groups.

Source: Legal500.com, 2009

International Connections

The legal sector continues to go from strength to strength, building international links and creating an important national profile.  Birmingham's commercial lawyers are making their mark in the global marketplace in a move designed to benefit local firms of all sizes.

Former President of Birmingham Law Society, Diane Benussi comments: "We are confident that by winning more international work there will be a "ripple effect" throughout the profession.  In effect, this means that increased cross-border activity by larger firms will spill increasing amounts of regionally located business into the domain of smaller firms.  Everyone wins."

To raise the profile of the City in the international arena, the centrepiece of the Law Society's international marketing initiative was a two day forum at the ICC, Birmingham, in February 2004.  There were up to 200 local lawyers there to ensure that all the considerable areas of local expertise were well represented, and around 70 international lawyers from partnership towns and ciities with which Birmingham already has relationships, as well as representatives from the International Bar Association.

The Forum wias the first in a series of five international legal conferences being held by Birmingham Law Society to underpin its global marketing initiative.

"The idea is to get people to come to Birmingham so they can develop a feel for the City in a way which no amount of glossy marketing brochures can convey.  If people enjoy a rewarding experience of making personal contacts they will be more likely to keep Birmingham in mind when business opportunities arise."

Advised in Birmingham

Advised in Birmingham was launched by Birmingham Law Society in 2002. It rapidly became recognised as a successful marketing initiative that draws attention to the legal service excellence in Birmingham.

In 2005 Birmingham Law Society passed the baton onto Birmingham Forward. Advised in Birmingham now promote the full range of professional, Legal and business services available in the city both nationally and internationally.

What are the aims of Advised in Birmingham?

• To advise the local media, the national and international press of the professional, financial and business services in Birmingham and the West Midlands with a view to attracting more clients.
• To improve recruitment and retention of high calibre staff into the region.

 To visit their website, click here

Source: www.Birminghamforward.co.uk

Birmingham Law Society

The Birmingham Law Society was established on the 3rd January 1818. Starting with 19 individual members, it is now the largest local law society in the country, representing over 2,500 solicitors in 300 practices in Birmingham and the greater West Midlands area.

To visit their website click here

The College of Law

The College of Law is the leading provider of legal training in the United Kingdom. Offering courses for those intending to qualify as lawyers as well as professional development courses for those who have already embarked on their legal career, The College of Law is the first choice for more prospective and qualified lawyers than anyone else. The Birmingham campus is located in the Jewellery Quarter.

To visit their website click here

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