The Legal 500

Browne Jacobson LLP is a national law firm offering a unique collection of specialisms across the commercial, public, health and insurance sectors. The firm has offices in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Nottingham. With over 226 lawyers and 78 partners, and offices in four principal UK cities, this multi-award winning firm has established a stellar reputation for its carefully targeted and managed public and private sector-focused growth strategy.

The firm: Browne Jacobson provides a comprehensive range of specialist legal services with real strength in depth. More than 40 of its lawyers are regarded as leading experts in their field. The firm also boasts an impressive portfolio of national and regional public and private sector clients, including Ageas, Aggregate Industries, Alliance Boots, Capita, EM LawShare, Gallagher Bassett, Health Trust Europe, Hiscox, Homes & Communities Agency, London Boroughs Legal Alliance, MACE Group, Medical Protection Society, NFU Mutual, NHS Litigation Authority, Natural England, North Midland Construction, North York Moors National Park Authority, Poundland, Santander, Siemens Enterprise Communications, Welsh Government and Wilkinsons.

Its cutting-edge, progressive and highly collegiate working environment has been recognised with an impressive array of national and regional accolades over recent years, including Birmingham Law Society’s ‘Law Firm of the Year 2012’ and East Midlands Insider Dealmaker’s ‘Corporate Law Firm of the Year 2011’. In 2011 the firm was also successfully re-accredited with the Lexcel practice management standard, Investors In People (IIP) and also the IIP well-being award.

Its commitment to recruiting and investing in highly talented, commercially astute lawyers is evidenced by its high retention rate and a plethora of industry awards, including twice winners of The Lawyer HR Awards for its graduate training programme and the awarding of eight rosettes by The Lex 100. The firm is also one of the founding members of PANGEA NET, a nonexclusive, international network of independent, full-service commercial law firms.

Types of work undertaken: With an established reputation for its commercial, public sector, health and insurance expertise, the firm has maintained its pre-eminent status in the East Midlands. Consistently punching above its weight, the firm’s Birmingham office has established a substantial presence in the West Midlands marketplace. Its London office in the heart of the City’s financial quarter is testament to its growing presence as a provider of legal advice to both insurance companies and financial institutions and provides the perfect strategic platform from which to serve the needs of its growing national client base. In 2012 the firm opened a new office in Manchester, in the heart of the city’s business district.

Corporate and commercial expertise covers a wide range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures, management buy outs, private equity, corporate restructuring and tax issues. Expertise is also offered in intellectual property, data protection, outsourcing, competition and trade regulation. The firm’s insurance team offers specialist advice ranging from professional indemnity and clinical negligence, to counter fraud, motor, and employers’ and public liability. Its thriving, high-volume claims division offers a wide range of online solutions to streamline the claims handling process and enhance renewal rates.

In addition to mainstay legal services, the firm’s health team provides specialist legal advice in areas such as clinical negligence, foundation trust status, inquests, governance, patient advisory work, consent to treatment, data protection and confidentiality. Public sector work is a particular specialism for the firm and covers public and administrative law, commercial and procurement, property, employment, health and safety, liability litigation, judicial review, inquiries and function-specific advice. Its role as advisor on more than 250 academy conversion projects has won the firm numerous plaudits, including ‘Legal Advisors of the Year’ at the Education Investors Awards 2011.

Breakdown of work %
Commercial 40
Health 20
Insurance 24
Public sector 16

Number of UK Partners 78

Number of other UK fee-earners 226