Irwin Mitchell has outlined its ambitions for growth in the North East after completing the acquisition of Newcastle and Richmond-based Silk Family Law.

The acquisition adds to Irwin Mitchell’s existing strong national presence in Family Law. The law firm has ambitions to grow its family and private client teams further in the North East and North Yorkshire with the increased capacity and capability that Silk Family Law provides.

Ian Kennerley, Managing Partner at Silk Family Law: “We’re delighted to be joining Irwin Mitchell and remain committed to providing the same specialist high quality family law advice and representation for all our clients. We share the same values for client service and excellence and look forward to benefiting from the additional resources and support which will be available to our clients on a national and international basis.”

Silk Family Law is ranked number one in the Legal 500 and Chambers guides in the Northeast and operates out of Newcastle, Leeds and Richmond, North Yorkshire. It represents clients across England in all aspects of matrimonial and family law, including financial and children matters. Its specialist lawyers have expertise in dealing with complex financial issues, including business assets, farming businesses, trusts, and pensions, as well as cases with an international dimension.

In the past 12 months Irwin Mitchell has also added other senior figures to its Family Law team with the recruitment of former BBC Newsreader Joanna Gosling as a mediator and two new Partners, Anna Chenoweth in Sheffield and Vandna Sharma in Reading.

The latest news marks another milestone in Irwin Mitchell’s growth plans following the recent confirmation of an investment in Scottish law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie also receiving regulatory approval.

On completing the Silk deal, Ros Bever, Director of Legal Services, Family Law at Irwin Mitchell, said: “I’m delighted to officially be welcoming the Silk Family Law team to our business. We’re already working closely together to develop our plans for growth and this acquisition offers us the opportunity to expand our family law and private client offer in the North East of England.”

Irwin Mitchell’s family law practice is already one of the most recognised teams in the country and regularly brings complex financial separation cases to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.