CASTLE CHAMBERS, 43 CASTLE STREET, LIVERPOOL, L2 9SU, ENGLAND
- Tel:
- Work 0151 236 2002
- Fax:
- Fax 0151 236 2585
- DX:
- 14159 LIVERPOOL-1
- Web:
- www.blm-law.com
- Email:
Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP (BLM) is one of the largest litigation law firms in the country – 95% of its turnover relates to the resolution of disputes. It provides advice to a broad range of commercial and public sector clients, including insurance companies, FTSE 100 companies, small and medium enterprises, local authorities, medical defence organisations, police authorities, professional service organisations, government departments, universities and other public sector institutions, as well as clients in the not-for-profit sector.
The firm: BLM’s services are integrated across nine UK offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Southampton and Stockton on Tees. All BLM offices work closely together to ensure clients receive a seamless service. The firm is over 1,300 strong, with 146 partners and more than 590 additional legal professionals. Despite its tremendous growth in recent years, it has managed to retain its approachable style and friendly working atmosphere.
BLM’s foremost objective is to help its clients gain the competitive edge – the firm does this by being totally focused on the needs of its clients’ markets. This means looking beyond the immediate legal issues to develop the best all-round practical and commercial solutions. BLM’s established policy development unit acts as a conduit between government, policy makers and clients, to provide briefings on government reforms and consultations. The team helps to shape the policy agenda and update clients on issues affecting their operations before they arise. BLM also offers a highly successful lawyer-led claims management service, and clients are also provided with a legal risk solution consultancy product, which trains and advises on risk and the prevention of claims and litigation.
Types of work undertaken: The firm operates in almost 50 areas of law, grouped broadly into nine market sectors: insurance and indemnity, construction and property, business services, healthcare, leisure, retail, public sector, transport, and media and technology.
Many partners play an active role in professional and industry bodies that are shaping the legal landscape. Partners take a leading role in the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (including BLM partner Michelle Penn, who is the Law Society representative for FOIL), and sit on the Law Society’s Civil Litigation Committee, Court of Appeal Users’ Group, as Deputy District Judges and the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Reference Group.
BLM is regularly involved in test cases and high-profile litigation on behalf of its clients, including the Supreme Court case of Willmore v Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (liability for mesothelioma) and Baker v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd & ors (the first noise induced hearing loss claim to reach the Supreme Court), as well as the Court of Appeal EL Trigger Litigation (resolving disputes concerning the definition of the ‘trigger’ event in employers’ liability policies relating to mesothelioma claims). The firm also acted in the professional negligence Supreme Court case of Jones v Kaney (in which the court abolished the immunity afforded to expert witnesses from claims for negligence arising out of evidence prepared for the purposes of legal proceedings).
More information about BLM can be found on its website: www.blm-law.com.
Other offices: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Southampton, Stockton on Tees
Breakdown of work %
Business services 10
Construction and property 10
Insurance and indemnity 40
Leisure 5
Media and technology 5
Public sector 15
Retail 5
Transport 5
Healthcare 5
Number of UK partners 146
Number of other UK fee-earners 594
Above material supplied by Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP.