National law firm Irwin Mitchell has said it is moving away from offering a volume wills service to third-party organisations and will instead “(refocus) its private client growth strategy towards complex advice” after a strategic internal review.
The firm said it had identified a 24% year -on-year increase in high-net-worth and international private client matters with the move away from its volume Wills service which predominantly provides free wills through third-party organisations, was “consistent with Irwin Mitchell’s long-term strategy of focusing on complex legal work.” The strategy has seen Irwin Mitchell sell its volume fast-track personal injury book in 2021, and more recently the disposal of debt recovery business Ascent and financial planning business IM Asset Management to focus on core legal services.
A refocused Private Client Group at Irwin Mitchell will continue to be one of the largest private client teams in the UK with over 400 staff across family law, private client advisory, private client disputes, tax and compliance, residential property and immigration. Irwin Mitchell said the firm’s focus was now on growing market share among affluent individuals in the UK across these core services.
As well as external clients the Private Client Group also provides specialist advice for other clients across the firm including those affected by personal injury and medical negligence and business owners and directors using the firm’s business legal services.
To support these efforts rural property expert Rosanne Tweddle in North Yorkshire and high-net-worth estate planning advisor Paula Fry in Chichester have joined the department, with 21 promotions in the private client team from the 100 recognised in its latest annual round.
Commenting on the strategy Ros Bever, managing partner of private client group said: “Our growth strategy focuses on resolving more complex legal issues for our clients whether individuals or businesses. With this in mind, and following a regular review, we have made the decision to move away from offering a volume wills service via other organisations and charities.
“Our private client team will remain one of the largest and specialist teams in the country and will continue to provide private will-writing, estate planning, tax, residential property, Will, trust and estate disputes, immigration and family law services.
“We have an exceptionally talented team of lawyers who combine deep technical expertise with a genuine understanding of what matters most to our clients. The positive feedback we receive from our clients reflects the trust they place in our lawyers and the standard of service they experience.
Bever added the growth of the private client market was forecast to grow by nearly £2bn over the next couple of years, from £10.3bn to £12bn by 2028. The firms plans to leverage its private client presence in all the major UK cities, expanding operations in Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool and Nottingham, as well as moving to a new office in London.
