Spencer West launches SW regional hub in Exeter and acquires tech and corporate firm as UK expansion continues
Leading integrated fee-sharing legal business Spencer West announces the next stage of its UK regional expansion with the addition of specialist technology and corporate law team of Probert Legal and the launch of a new South West hub in Exeter.
The move will see the respected team from Probert Legal added to Spencer West’s existing roster of legal experts in the region, giving it a strong presence in the South West in line with its UK regional development strategy.
The Probert team will join on August 1 and will include founders Edmund and Jo Probert as well as solicitor Lucie Biddick, bringing specialist capability in corporate law, including MBOs, private equity and restructuring, commercial, intellectual property, employment, and data protection law, working with clients in the technology, renewable energy, and the care sector.
The trio will work digitally and collaboratively as part of the Spencer West team in the region, with access to the firm’s new administrative hub in Exeter, for client meetings and for cross-team collaboration.
The news comes as Spencer West continues its international expansion with offices opening in several key jurisdictions across Europe and Asia in the coming weeks and months.
Welcoming the Probert Legal team to the business, Antoine West, Managing Partner of Spencer West, said: “Edmund, Jo and the team bring with them a wealth of corporate, commercial, and intellectual property experience and are a perfect fit with our current offering, which already has a strong focus on advising tech-related businesses and the renewable energy sector.”
“This announcement reflects our commitment to growing our unique offering across key regions of the UK and will add to the team of highly capable lawyers we already have in locations such as Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Devon and Cornwall
“The addition of the team from Probert Legal and the launch of our South West hub mean that we can now confidently be seen as a leading option for businesses and individuals seeking high quality legal services across the region.”
He added: “We are in the process of implementing an ‘on the ground’ presence in a range of key UK regions which will set us apart as a leading City of London originating, fee-sharing firm offering both local and international expertise.
“Our model, driven by partner-led practices acting as trusted advisors to our clients, can be scaled like no other. Our ‘work anywhere, work collaboratively’ approach resonates with senior lawyers in the marketplace who are looking for a high-quality home for their practices, within a respected, growing, dynamic law firm with high calibre colleagues to work alongside, in both the UK and internationally."
Edmund Probert commented: “We are excited to be joining Spencer West. This move gives us the support of a larger firm and its administrative team, and access to a team of more than 80 partners.
“Spencer West has expertise across all areas of business law and private client and we are looking forward to the collegiate atmosphere and support that it offers, as well as being part of a growing presence in the South West.
“There are already numerous other partners based in the region and so, with Lucie Biddick, our employment specialist, also joining, the move strengthens the firm’s capability across Devon and Cornwall. We have already been working with the team and we are excited to be here.”
Spencer West’s co-founder and Senior Partner, Simeon Spencer, said: “Spencer West is now firmly on the map in the South West as a favoured destination for highly experienced lawyers. Strength across key UK regions and markets is central to our overall strategy. Many of our clients and lawyers are deeply connected to the South West, and we expect to see increased demand from clients for our services in the region with this announcement.”
