Operating in more than 30 countries, Taylor Wessing opened its first base in Liverpool in November 2018 with an initial 25 people and now that is set to grow to more than 100. Tony McDonough reports
Top international law firm Taylor Wessing is relocating its Liverpool office to the Royal Albert Dock after seeing a surge in staff numbers since its arrival in the city in 2018.
Taylor Wessing, which has its headquarters in London and operates in more than 30 countries across the world, opened its first base in Liverpool in November 2018 with an initial 25 people. The move was seen as a major inward investment coup for the city.
The firm has been based at Merchants Court in Lord Street since then but it expects to be employing more than 100 people by April this year and is now relocating its operation to the Royal Albert Dock. It is taking 13,000 sq ft of office space at the newly-refurbished Edward Pavilion.
Having launched in Liverpool with a small risk team focused on business acceptance matters, Taylor Wessing now has 17 lawyers and paralegals, and over 60 business service professionals in the city.
Its growth includes the recruitment of five associates from top rated regional firms and international law firms. It is continuing to hire lawyers and paralegals and across all its business service functions.
Taylor Wessing partner and head of the firm’s Liverpool office, Saleem Fazal, said: “It’s been a highly successful year for the firm as a whole with fantastic achievements in terms of our strategy, the modernisation of our work practices, and our profitability.
“The stunning location of our new Liverpool home is the icing on the cake, and we are thrilled to be able to commit our future to this vibrant, enterprising city. Our team in Liverpool can’t wait to move into the stunning Edward Pavilion refurbishment, and we believe the new office will be a huge asset for us in attracting the very best legal and professional services talent in the North West.”
Edward Pavilion is a refurbished 19th century warehouse developed by Castleforge Partners, has been chosen to enable flexible working, high-speed connectivity with the firm’s 28 UK and international offices. Worthington Owen acted for Castleforge on the deal while CBRE represented Taylor Wessing.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson was instrumental in bringing Taylor Wessing to the city. He added: “Taylor Wessing is at the forefront of modern legal services, using new technologies and modern practices to provide the best possible services to their clients.
“Their commitment to innovation precisely matches the ambitions of our city, and they make full use of our world-class knowledge assets. Their expansion into a permanent home on Liverpool’s historic waterfront is testament to the availability of high-end legal talent in this city.”