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Bermans 2025: A Year of Growth, Innovation & Celebration
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a year defined by client outcomes, sector leadership and community impact.
Across Liverpool and Manchester, our partner‑led teams delivered clear, uncomplicated legal advice to owner‑managed businesses, SMEs, funders and private clients, combining deep sector experience with practical, commercial solutions.
Below are some of our 2025 highlights and what we’re building on in 2026.
1) Recognised for excellence in The Legal 500
Bermans achieved multiple rankings in the latest Legal 500, including:
- Debt Recovery (Tier 2, North West)
- Asset Based Lending (Tier 3, London),
- Commercial Litigation (Manchester – ‘Firms to Watch’),
- Corporate & Commercial (Liverpool – Tier 3; Manchester – Tier 5),
- Insolvency & Corporate Recovery (Tier 4).
Individual commendations included Leading Partners Alex Chapman and David Gledhill, and Next Generation Partner James Whittaker, recognition grounded in the complexity of matters handled, team strength and client feedback.
[Learn why Bermans is ranked among the best]
2) Expanding our capabilities: launch of Creditor Services
We unified recoveries and ABL litigation into a single, end‑to‑end Creditor Services practice area—combining pre‑action protocols, court proceedings and enforcement options (from HCEOs to third‑party debt orders) with transparent pricing and a client portal for real‑time case updates.
The aim is simple: recover what you’re owed, efficiently, expertly, and without delay.
Find out more about our Creditor Services team: Bermans Creditor Services | Expert Asset & Debt Recovery | Bermans
3) Sector leadership in asset & invoice finance
As a long‑standing market leader in ABL, we continued to translate complex appellate decisions into practical actions for funders.
A good example is our analysis of the Supreme Court’s Hopcraft v Close Brothers judgment, though focused on motor finance, the Court’s findings carry wider ramifications for broker commission across sectors, including invoice finance. Our commentary set out the implications for documentation, disclosure and litigation risk.
Alongside real‑time insights, we maintained an extensive library of Asset Finance publications from the legal structure of asset finance to termination, damages and guarantees, designed to help funders and brokers resolve issues quickly.
4) Investing in tomorrow’s talent
We were proud to attend the University of Liverpool Careers Fair alongside our colleagues at the Jackson Lees Group, answering questions on routes into law and showcasing opportunities across The MAPD Group.
Our careers hub highlights current vacancies and training routes (LPC and SQE) across Liverpool and Manchester, reflecting our commitment to developing people and retaining trainees post‑qualification.
5) People moves that strengthen our client offer
To support sustained growth, we welcomed senior lateral hires, Mike Carter (Litigation Partner) Richard Riley (Head of Commercial) and Elizabeth Wilkinson (Litigation Partner), to the firm, alongside other strategic additions across the firm.
6) Celebrating a 40‑year partnership: Myers La Roche
One of the year’s most enjoyable milestones was marking Myers La Roche’s 40th anniversary. The Altrincham‑based consultancy has facilitated transactions exceeding £150m and now supports independent optometry, audiology and podiatry practices across the UK and Ireland. It’s been our privilege to partner with them on sales and acquisitions for healthcare professionals over many years.
As our Managing Director Jon Davage noted, their client‑first approach and long‑term relationships mirror our own values.
[Find out more about Myers La Roche]
7) Community and connection: Beaujolais Day & charitable giving
Our annual Beaujolais Day in Liverpool brought together 100+ clients and contacts, held at One Fine Day and raised £2,500 for Beacon Counselling Trust through our charity raffle.
As well as this, the Bermans team have been busy fundraising through charity runs, bake sales, and sporting events – to name a few!
We’re also proud patrons of Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham, where staff volunteered time and donations for the charity’s festive appeal (and you may have spotted our Bermans Run Club 10k fundraiser for Mahdlo in May).
As a firm Powered by MAPD, we believe great law and community purpose go hand in hand, we’re incredibly proud of our team’s and clients’ fundraising efforts throughout the year.
Looking towards 2026
As 2025 closes, we are grateful for the confidence placed in us by our clients, colleagues and partners. Recognition is welcome, but our benchmarks remain measurable outcomes, sound judgement and trusted relationships.
In 2026 we’re excited to invest in people and infrastructure to ensure timely, cost‑effective legal advice and support. Our focus is unchanged: clear advice, disciplined execution and outcomes that protect and create value.
If you would like to discuss your priorities for 2026, please contact our team: Bermans Contact us | Bermans