BLM has expanded its offering and capability with the launch of a new Commercial Advisory practice, run by a team joining the firm from one of the largest and well–known UK law firms, Slater & Gordon.

In total, 33 lawyers, including 11 partners, will join BLM today, Monday 2 October. Four lawyers will launch a business advisory offering, to include company and corporate law, intellectual property, and information and communication technology. The firm has also been joined by 15 commercial real estate lawyers with non–contentious expertise who will broaden the firm’s construction and property damage offering, as well as four employment and 10 commercial litigation lawyers who will complement and grow BLM’s existing practice.

The new lawyers will form a Commercial Advisory business stream at BLM, which will be headed by new partner Stephen Lintott. The team of lawyers will be spread across both the Manchester and London locations.

The Commercial Advisory business stream will provide a range of business legal services for a wider range of customers, including local, national and international organisations and partnerships of all sizes, public sector bodies, charities and individuals.

Mike Brown, senior partner at BLM, said: “This is another exciting and progressive step for BLM as we continue to broaden our offering and which quickly follows on from the launch of our international network. We’ve made no secret of the fact that we want to diversify into additional areas of law which complement our core insurance offering. Part of our strategy is to expand the range and reach of services that we can offer to our customers. Therefore, being joined by our new colleagues is in line with that approach. We’re now able to offer new services and products to our existing customers and have the opportunity to develop completely new customers both within the UK and internationally.

“We have engaged in discussions with Slater & Gordon for quite some time. We knew they were making plans to restructure their business to focus on core consumer services and we were seriously exploring our diversification strategy. It is a logical move for both businesses. The Slater & Gordon team wanted to move to us and we are delighted they chose to do so, we’re really looking forward to the team joining us.”

BLM LLP was advised by Tony Harper of Brabners LLP.