Bermans
Bermans is a UK full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool with a Manchester office, serving owner-managed SMEs, corporates, asset-based lenders and high-growth technology businesses across thirteen practice areas including corporate, litigation, property, employment, insolvency, and its market-leading asset finance and invoice finance specialisms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersLiverpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bermans does
Bermans is a UK full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool with a second office in Manchester, founded in 1970 and operating under the legal entity Bermans Limited (SRA-regulated, company no. 3952758). It is 'Powered by MAPD' as part of the MAPD Group of aligned law firms, with 51–100 employees across two offices. The firm delivers partner-led legal services across thirteen practice areas, including corporate, commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, employment, property and construction, insolvency, IP/IT, licensing, private client, sport, and the firm's market-leading specialisms of asset finance and invoice finance (it is a founding affiliate of the ABFA and was named 'Best Receivables Finance Lawyer 2021'). Client segments span owner-managed SMEs, larger corporates, asset-based lenders and invoice finance providers, financial institutions, sports clubs and governing bodies, and high-growth technology businesses, with select mandates extending internationally via a global legal network.
The firm's core 'product' is professional legal services — billable hours, fixed fees for transactions, and retainers — delivered by partners, senior associates, solicitors, trainees and paralegals. No proprietary technology platform is disclosed; service delivery relies on traditional partner-led engagement through the Liverpool and Manchester offices, supplemented by sector-specific newsletters, thought-leadership content, and ecosystem engagement via BlockRocket, Bruntwood SciTech, and The Start Up Factory. Bermans holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and FSQS certifications (per its website footers), signalling quality, information-security and financial-services supplier standards. Revenue is generated through professional-services fees and is not publicly disclosed.
Recent strategic activity indicates active expansion: in April 2026 the firm relocated its Manchester office to a larger 4,300 sq ft space on a ten-year lease to accommodate headcount growth from 35 to 60+, alongside multiple senior hires in litigation, property finance, ABL, and corporate (May/June 2026) and the formalisation of a national Licensing practice (August 2025). The firm has acted on several mid-market M&A transactions including the sales of RoBAT to Mycronic, IPEC to ABB, Miric Engineering to Brennan Industries, and Direct Pump Services to Macquarie-backed Metcor Group.
Bermans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bermans
- Legal name
- Bermans Limited
- Website
- https://bermans.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bermans is a UK full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool with a Manchester office, serving owner-managed SMEs, corporates, asset-based lenders and high-growth technology businesses across thirteen practice areas including corporate, litigation, property, employment, insolvency, and its market-leading asset finance and invoice finance specialisms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bermans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related) (BPAHANAG), Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK), Business Valuation & Litigation Support (BPAHABAK)
Keywords
Where Bermans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liverpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bermans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Legal Services Fees: Bermans generates revenue through professional services fees charged to clients for legal advice across its practice areas including corporate transactions, litigation, property, employment, asset finance, invoice finance, insolvency, IP, and licensing law. Revenue is derived from billable hours, fixed fees for specific transactions, and retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Bermans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bermans is a full-service commercial law firm providing partner-led legal advice across thirteen practice areas including Asset Finance, Invoice Finance, Corporate, Employment, Property and Construction, Litigation, Insolvency, Creditor Services, Commercial, IP and IT, Licensing Law, Private Client, and Sport. The firm serves owner-managed SMEs, larger corporates, financial institutions, and sector-specific clients from offices in Liverpool and Manchester, generating revenue through billable hours, fixed fees, and retainer arrangements.
Product overview
Bermans is a full-service commercial law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services. The firm operates as a multi-practice law firm with specialist teams in Asset Finance and Invoice Finance (its market-leading specialisms), alongside Corporate, Employment, Property and Construction, Litigation, Insolvency, Creditor Services, Commercial, Intellectual Property and IT, Licensing Law, Private Client, and Sport. The practice areas work collaboratively to serve clients across the full business lifecycle, from startup advice through to major M&A transactions and dispute resolution. The firm is part of the MAPD Group of law firms and maintains offices in Liverpool and Manchester.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Asset Finance Specialist legal services for asset-based lending, covering fraud, freezing orders, title claims, and debt recovery for asset-based lenders. The firm is established as a market leader in this area since the 1980s.
- Invoice Finance Specialist legal advice on invoice finance arrangements and receivables management. Bermans is a founder affiliate of the ABFA (Asset Based Finance Association) and 'Best Receivables Finance Lawyer 2021'.
- Corporate Full-service corporate and commercial team advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, reorganisations, joint ventures, incorporations, corporate governance, and employee share and incentive schemes.
- Employment Professional employment law advice including TUPE, collective consultation, trade union recognition, and Employment Tribunal matters, acting for clients across social housing, financial services, manufacturing, and leisure sectors.
- Property and Construction Commercial property transactions, construction law, planning matters, and property finance for developers, investors, fund managers, banks, and bridging loan companies.
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practical approach to resolving commercial disputes, including court proceedings, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution. The team handles commercial disputes including carriage of goods, Admiralty Court, and Commercial Court claims.
- Insolvency and Financial Rescue Advisory and transactional services for insolvency practitioners, corporates, and lenders on restructuring and new lending matters, with over 20 years' specialist experience in the team.
- Creditor Services Debt collection and creditor advisory services, including debt recovery lifecycle management for invoice finance providers, asset-based lenders, and SMEs. The Legal 500 ranks Bermans as a top tier firm for debt recovery.
- Commercial Advisory on commercial matters, partnership agreements, and charities law, with particular expertise in commercial contracts for the creative and tech sectors including software developers, platform providers, music publishers, and online retailers.
- Intellectual Property and IT IP and IT legal services including IP protection, licensing, commercial contracts, and GDPR compliance for technology companies.
- Licensing Law Specialist licensing services for hospitality operators including alcohol licences, entertainment licences, and premises licence applications across England, Scotland and Wales, plus compliance, risk management, variation of licences, and representation at licensing hearings.
- Private Client Legal services supporting individuals with personal affairs including wills, probate, trusts, and estate planning.
- Sport Specialist sports law services for players, clubs, agents, and governing bodies covering contracts, commercial and endorsement agreements, representation/promotional/management agreements, disputes, image rights, disciplinary matters, and sports regulations in football, rugby, cricket, and golf.
- International Legal Network International legal services network with partner firms covering North America, Far East, Europe, and globally to support cross-border transactions for UK-based clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Legal 500 recommended Bermans in 7 practice areas with 16 individually recommended lawyers.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bermans
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Bermans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bermans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MAPD GroupcoreBermans is part of the MAPD Group (MAPD Ventures Ltd), a collection of aligned law firms across the UK sharing the purpose of 'Making a Positive Difference'. The group was founded by Co-Founders Brian Cullen and Joanna Kingston-Davies. MAPD empowers member firms with support for growth, talent development, and business operations. Bermans is 'Powered by MAPD'.
- Camlee GroupcoreCorporate finance firm Camlee Group acted as advisor on the sale of Direct Pump Services to Metcor Group, with Bermans providing legal advisory support alongside Gosschalks and RSM UK. Also advised on the Miric Engineering acquisition by Brennan Industries Inc.
- RSM UKminorAdvisory team supporting the Metcor Group acquisition of Direct Pump Services alongside Bermans, Camlee Group, and Gosschalks.
- GosschalksminorAdvisory team supporting the Metcor Group acquisition of Direct Pump Services alongside Bermans, Camlee Group, and RSM UK.
- DJH (Corporate Finance and Tax)coreDJH provided corporate finance and tax advice alongside Bermans' legal advice on the sale of Manchester University spin-out IPEC to ABB.
- Myers La RochecoreLongstanding and valued partner of Bermans specialising in helping independent opticians and healthcare practices to grow, acquire and sell independent practices. Has facilitated over £150m in deals. Bermans works alongside Myers La Roche on related legal matters.
- Bruntwood SciTechminorBermans is proud to be supporting Bruntwood SciTech's 'Manchester's Female Founders Incubator programme', supporting female entrepreneurs in the Manchester tech ecosystem.
- BlockRocketminorBermans sponsors the Blockchain Manchester Meetup hosted by BlockRocket. Jon Davage and the commercial/IP team regularly attend these meetups to engage with tech entrepreneurs and startups.
- The Start Up FactoryminorGuy Remond and Ian Brookes from The Start Up Factory developed a book 'From the Factory Floor: We Build Tech Companies'. Jon Davage contributed a chapter on legal building blocks for tech startups. The firm distributes free copies of the book.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bermans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Weightmans: Weightmans is a UK commercial law firm of comparable size with strong insurance, defendant litigation, and creditor services practices, overlapping directly with Bermans' debt recovery and commercial litigation offerings for similar mid-market and institutional clients.
- Brabners: Brabners is a Northwest-focused full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool with a major Manchester office, competing head-to-head with Bermans for SME, corporate, property, and litigation mandates across the same regional client base.
- DWF Group: DWF is a UK-listed full-service commercial law firm with strong insurance, real estate, and litigation practices, comparable in scale and service mix to Bermans and competing for similar mid-market corporate and financial services clients.
- Freeths: Freeths is a UK full-service commercial law firm of comparable size to Bermans with strong corporate, real estate, employment, and dispute resolution practices, competing for similar mid-market and SME clients across multiple English regions.
- Hill Dickinson: Hill Dickinson is a Liverpool-headquartered full-service commercial law firm with a strong asset finance and marine/shipping practice, directly competing with Bermans in Northwest England for commercial, asset finance, and corporate mandates across similar client segments.
Broad incumbents
- TLT: TLT is a larger UK commercial law firm with deep practices in financial services, real estate, and corporate, offering overlapping capabilities to Bermans but serving a broader national client base across multiple UK cities.
- Kennedys: Kennedys is a global insurance and commercial law firm with strong creditor-side litigation and dispute resolution practices, competing with Bermans in debt recovery and commercial litigation but at materially larger scale across more jurisdictions.
- Addleshaw Goddard: Addleshaw Goddard is a major Manchester-headquartered UK commercial law firm with significantly broader scale, offering corporate, finance, real estate, and dispute resolution services that overlap with Bermans' practice areas but at a national/international level.
- Irwin Mitchell: Irwin Mitchell is a major UK full-service commercial and private client law firm with significant presence in the Northwest, offering overlapping corporate, employment, property, and dispute resolution services that compete with Bermans' full-service offering.
- Clyde & Co: Clyde & Co is a major international law firm with core strengths in insurance, commercial litigation, and asset finance — directly competing with Bermans' Asset Finance and Creditor Services practices but at significantly larger global scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bermans social profiles
Digital presenceBermans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bermans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Bermans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bermans M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bermans
What does Bermans do?
Bermans is a full-service commercial law firm providing partner-led legal advice across thirteen practice areas including Asset Finance, Invoice Finance, Corporate, Employment, Property and Construction, Litigation, Insolvency, Creditor Services, Commercial, IP and IT, Licensing Law, Private Client, and Sport. The firm serves owner-managed SMEs, larger corporates, financial institutions, and sector-specific clients from offices in Liverpool and Manchester, generating revenue through billable hours, fixed fees, and retainer arrangements.
Is Bermans a public or private company?
Bermans is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bermans founded?
Bermans was founded in 1970. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bermans based?
Bermans is headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bermans make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services Fees.
Who are Bermans's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Weightmans, Brabners, DWF Group, Freeths and Hill Dickinson. Broad incumbents are TLT, Kennedys, Addleshaw Goddard, Irwin Mitchell and Clyde & Co.
Does Bermans have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bermans.
What industry is Bermans in?
Bermans's product category is Commercial Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAG, Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services, with a secondary code of BPAHANAG, Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related). Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.