Articles From the Team
Solicitors - why relocate to Birmingham?
As the UK’s now undisputed ‘second city’ there is no regional hub that can offer more to the legal professional than Birmingham. Within close proximity to London and with a thriving business and financial market, the city has a significant base of local clients and large scale deals that will keep Birmingham’s solicitors busy for the rest of their careers…
By way of example, HSBC is investing over £200m in Birmingham and moving more than 1000 head office roles to the city from London before 2019, in addition to its 2500 employees already based in the city. Tom Johnson, Head of Pinsent Masons’ UK Development practice said that the move ‘underlines the reputation of Birmingham as a world class business centre.’ Eversheds’ real estate team also worked on the deal which is considered the most significant deal in Birmingham for over a decade.
The West Midlands and Birmingham also trounces other regional rivals as the only region boasting trade surplus with China and the wider Asia Pacific region according to FT analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics. The £600m makeover of New Street station/Grand Central is further proof of the economic health of the city and is only one of the various schemes which is transforming Birmingham as a prime centre for inward investment. The new tramline and £500m Paradise scheme also means that Birmingham increasingly appeals to investors globally.
The housing market in Birmingham is also strong as Londoners increasingly flock to the city for cheaper house prices and a more relaxed way of living – Birmingham is now said to be the most popular destination for Londoners looking for an ‘escape route’ with some 6000 people moving from London to Birmingham every year.
With leading international firms including Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, Gowling WLG, Squire Patton Boggs and DLA Piper all having large offices in the city and other more traditionally London centric firms such as Hogan Lovells and Trowers & Hamlins rapidly expanding their Birmingham offices as well as the other big national players such as Gateley, Mills & Reeve and Shoosmiths all putting a focus on Birmingham, it is no wonder that more and more of you are moving to (or back to) Birmingham to continue your legal careers.
If you are considering relocating to Birmingham and would like a confidential discussion regarding about your career including guidance on salaries, then please contact Angharad Warren at BCL Legal. Angharad specialises in the placement of solicitors into Birmingham’s leading commercial firms.