IBB Law LLP and Owen White Solicitors join forces

IBB Law LLP and Owen White Solicitors are pleased to announce that they are merging their businesses from 1 January 2023 to achieve greater breadth and diversity of service for a growing client base in the Thames Valley and beyond. The merger will create a 36 partner, 110 lawyer, £24 million turnover full service law firm

The merger demonstrates a joint ambition to invest in and diversify client service offerings and to grow to a combined turnover of £30 million by 2024/25. With a combined workforce of 261 people and 110 lawyers the merged firm has a strengthened commercial services and real estate offering.

The merged firm, which will be known as IBB Law LLP and IBB Owen White for a transitionary period, will move into new expanded offices in Reading in early February 2023. Owen White’s staff will integrate into IBB Law’s existing Uxbridge office and the new office in Reading signalling the firm’s intention to grow throughout the Thames Valley and beyond.

Joanna DeBiase will continue as managing partner for the merged firm and Jane Masih will join the main Board of IBB Law LLP.

Key practice areas for expansion will include dispute resolution, corporate/commercial, all aspects of real estate work and to build on Owen White’s specialist franchising practice, with more resources dedicated to clients and additional capital to target key growth areas for the firm.

IBB Law LLP (2020) is a successor practice to IBB Solicitors, a general partnership established on the merger of Illifes (1771) and Booth Bennett (1985) in 1994.  It is a broad service LLP with 31 Partners, 96 lawyers and 43 paralegals and administrators.  Since its formation, it has been a strong legal force within the Thames Valley and West London regions and is duly recognised by Chambers and Legal 500 for its strengths in commercial services, commercial property, private client and community legal services.  It represents a wide range of clients locally and nationally.

Owen White is a niche commercial services firm based in Slough.  The firm can trace its origins to the 1920s and has an enviable national reputation for property development and franchising in particular. Its 25 lawyers and 5 Partners are highly respected and handle work normally the preserve of large City firms.