Irwin Mitchell takes over Golds in post-Clementi push

Top-25 firm Irwin Mitchellis to merge with Glasgow-headquartered Golds to form a £125m-turnover firm.

The combination, effective 1 April, will form the UK’s fourth-biggest firm by headcount, with total staff of 2,300.

With the Legal Services Bill, the two firms see benefits in teaming up to create a leading player in the market for commoditised insurance and lending advice.

Irwin Mitchell is known for its insurance and personal injury work while Golds dominates the Scottish market for mortgage lending, commercial lending and recovery services to financial institutions. The two firms have enjoyed a close referral relationship in insurance work.

Irwin Mitchell managing partner Howard Culley will become managing partner of the combined firm while Golds managing partner Craig Marshall will become Scottish regional head.

Said Culley: “This merger will create a legal powerhouse, offering our clients an unequalled diversity of legal services whilst providing the firm with a springboard to develop commercial work with financial institutions.

"The merger will also create a base to promote our market leading personal injury and clinical negligence services in Scotland.”