Birkett Long
Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based, Colchester-headquartered regional law firm (founded 1821, 51–100 employees) offering corporate, employment, real estate, banking, and private client legal services. It was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited in June 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1821
- HeadquartersColchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Birkett Long does
Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based limited liability partnership providing legal advisory services, headquartered in Colchester. Founded in 1821, the firm operated across multiple practice areas including corporate, employment, real estate, banking, business tax, and private client services, serving both individual and business clients primarily in the East of England region. With a headcount of 51–100 employees, Birkett Long functioned as a mid-sized regional law firm delivering services through direct client engagement with legal advisers.
On 13 June 2025, Birkett Long LLP was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited, a publicly listed UK legal services consolidator trading as 'Knights'. The acquisition terminated Birkett Long's status as an independent entity, with client services continuing unchanged post-transaction and custody of important client documents (wills, property deeds) transferred to Knights. The firm now operates as part of Knights' broader network rather than as a standalone practice.
No proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, or technology-driven differentiators are disclosed. The business model is the standard professional services model: fee-for-service legal advice billed against time and matter complexity, with revenue derived from individual clients, SMEs, and corporate clients across its practice areas. As a post-acquisition entity, Birkett Long's commercial trajectory is now embedded within Knights' regional consolidation strategy.
Birkett Long firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Birkett Long
- Legal name
- Birkett Long LLP
- Website
- https://birkettlong.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1821
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based, Colchester-headquartered regional law firm (founded 1821, 51–100 employees) offering corporate, employment, real estate, banking, and private client legal services. It was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited in June 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Birkett Long industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)
Keywords
Where Birkett Long is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Birkett Long business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Birkett Long product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based law firm providing multi-disciplinary legal advisory services to both individuals and businesses. Practice areas included corporate, commercial, employment, banking, business tax, real estate, private client, dispute resolution, immigration, intellectual property, residential property, and restructuring & insolvency matters. The firm was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited on 13 June 2025 and continues to deliver services under the Knights umbrella.
Product overview
Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based legal and professional services firm providing legal advisory services. Following its acquisition by Knights Professional Services Limited on 13 June 2025, the firm continues to operate under Knights' umbrella while maintaining its existing client services. As a law firm, Birkett Long offered expertise across multiple legal disciplines including corporate, employment, private client, real estate, and regulatory matters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corporate & Commercial Law Services
Companies that use Birkett Long
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Birkett Long technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Birkett Long partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Knights Professional Services LimitedcoreBirkett Long LLP was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited (trading as 'Knights') on 13 June 2025. For Birkett Long clients, this did not change the current services being provided at the time of acquisition. Documents held in safe custody (wills, property deeds) were transferred to Knights' safekeeping.
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights1 record
Birkett Long competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Co-op Legal Services: Alternative business structure (ABS) providing private client and legal services nationally. Comparable to Birkett Long's private client practice but differentiates through digital delivery and lower-cost pricing models, representing competitive pressure on traditional regional firms.
Broad incumbents
- Irwin Mitchell: National UK law firm with broad corporate, real estate, employment, and private client practices. Broader geographic and practice coverage than Birkett Long but competes for the same UK regional and SME clients.
- Weightmans LLP: UK national law firm with strong regional presence offering corporate, real estate, employment, and private client services. Competes with Birkett Long for the same mid-market and regional clients, though at a larger scale.
- QualitySolicitors: UK national network of law firms offering corporate, real estate, employment, and private client services. Comparable to Birkett Long in serving SMEs and individuals across UK regions, though operating through a franchise/network model.
- Taylor Rose Solicitors: National UK law firm (also acquired by Knights) offering private client and real estate services. Comparable in multi-practice approach and was a parallel Knights acquisition, making it structurally similar to Birkett Long post-acquisition.
Direct peers
- Ashtons Legal: East Anglian regional law firm providing corporate, commercial, real estate, and private client services. Comparable to Birkett Long in regional positioning, multi-practice offering, and client base of individuals, owner-managed businesses, and SMEs.
- Knights Professional Services: Parent company and direct acquirer of Birkett Long in June 2025. Knights is a UK national full-service law firm with a comparable multi-practice offering (corporate, real estate, employment, private client), making it the most directly comparable peer and now the operating umbrella for Birkett Long.
- Birketts LLP: East of England regional law firm headquartered in Ipswich offering corporate, real estate, employment, and private client services. Directly comparable in geography, size, and practice mix to Birkett Long, competing for the same regional SME and HNW clients.
- Hewitsons LLP: East Midlands-based regional law firm offering corporate, real estate, employment, and private wealth services. Comparable in size, full-service structure, and target market of owner-managed businesses and high-net-worth individuals to Birkett Long.
- Foot Anstey LLP: South West and London regional law firm with comparable practice areas (corporate, real estate, private client, employment) and similar mid-market positioning. Direct competitor for UK regional legal work and comparable in scale to Birkett Long.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Birkett Long social profiles
Digital presenceBirkett Long financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Birkett Long leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Birkett Long funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Birkett Long 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 Birkett Long
What does Birkett Long do?
Birkett Long LLP was a UK-based law firm providing multi-disciplinary legal advisory services to both individuals and businesses. Practice areas included corporate, commercial, employment, banking, business tax, real estate, private client, dispute resolution, immigration, intellectual property, residential property, and restructuring & insolvency matters. The firm was acquired by Knights Professional Services Limited on 13 June 2025 and continues to deliver services under the Knights umbrella.
Is Birkett Long a public or private company?
Birkett Long is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Birkett Long founded?
Birkett Long was founded in 1821. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Birkett Long based?
Birkett Long is headquartered in Colchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Birkett Long's main competitors?
Co-op Legal Services is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Irwin Mitchell, Weightmans LLP, QualitySolicitors and Taylor Rose Solicitors. Direct peers are Ashtons Legal, Knights Professional Services, Birketts LLP, Hewitsons LLP and Foot Anstey LLP.
Does Birkett Long have an API?
No public API is recorded for Birkett Long.
What industry is Birkett Long in?
Birkett Long's product category is Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAK, Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law. Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.