Flint Bishop strengthens national presence with strategic acquisition of Walker Morris’ Banking & Finance Recoveries division

The strategic acquisition also marks our entry into the Leeds market and substantially enhances the firm’s capabilities in broader litigation and recoveries work, along with establishing a firm footprint to develop our full legal services offering across the UK.

The Walker Morris team, known for its national reputation and inclusion on several bank panels, was carefully selected for our strategic move into the financial services sector. The acquisition propels us into the bank recovery and litigation arena, positioning the firm as one of the top legal providers to major banks and financial institutions. We have recently revealed plans for significant investments in staff, systems, and technology to further expand our national presence in this sector.

The acquisition brings numerous senior-level experts into the fold, increasing the firm’s total staff to over 280. As part of the transfer, Justin Coley will assume the role of Head of Recoveries, whilst Rebecca Calland and Ellen McLean have been promoted to the position of Partner. Other key figures joining from Walker Morris include banking litigation senior associates Georgina Davis and Olena Jarockyj.

We have also recruited banking litigation specialist Kate Hicks, currently with Yorkshire Building Society and formerly with DLA Piper and Walker Morris, to lead the Finance Dispute Resolution team, which will manage complex and contested banking litigation matters. Niall Gilhooley, former Chief Executive of Ascent, a division of Irwin Mitchell, who joined Flint Bishop two years ago, will serve as overall Debt Services Division Head.

Qamer Ghafoor, Chief Executive of Flint Bishop, commented: “This strategic acquisition positions Flint Bishop as one of the UK’s top legal firms specialising in volume banking litigation and recovery-related work. It dramatically strengthens our Litigation, Debt and Property Services business by expanding our reach in the financial services market.”

Jeanette Burgess, Managing Partner at Walker Morris, said: “This strategic move allows us to focus on complex banking and finance litigation and other main practice areas, while ensuring the clients within our Recoveries division will continue to receive high-level service they are accustomed to. We wish the team great success in their new home.”

Ghafoor added: “The acquisition presents a prime growth opportunity and an excellent location for all our practice areas to capitalise on and have a presence. Not only will it grant us access to new markets and clients, but it will also introduce us to a thriving city for recruiting additional skilled lawyers to enrich our firm’s capabilities in existing and new practice areas.

“I am highly committed to growing the firm across all commercial and private client practice areas, providing opportunities for all, and ensuring our full-service offering thrives across all three locations: Derby, Birmingham, and now Leeds, with other planned locations on the horizon. With a fantastic team backing us, we’re in a prime position to introduce the Flint Bishop brand into new sectors across the UK and make a significant impact.”

This bold move signals our ambition to become a dominant force in the UK banking litigation and recoveries arena, setting the stage for accelerated growth and market leadership in the coming years.