Southampton-headquartered law firm Clarke Willmott has acquired Latitude Law, a specialist business immigration practice with offices in Manchester, London and Brussels, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which the firm describes as a “key strategic milestone”, brings a team of immigration specialists into Clarke Willmott and creates a new dedicated UK immigration law capability for the business.
Acquisition details and strategic rationale
Clarke Willmott, which has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, London, Cardiff and Taunton, announced the acquisition on 26 August 2026. Latitude Law advises corporates, business owners and high-net-worth individuals on Home Office applications and compliance requirements. The firm is ranked in the Legal 500, Lexology and Chambers and Partners UK.
Peter Swinburn, chief executive of Clarke Willmott, said: “We are delighted to announce our acquisition of Latitude Law and to welcome the team to the firm. They have an exceptional reputation in the market and are recognised for delivering first-class immigration advice to businesses and individuals alike.”
Leadership and integration plans
The new immigration team will be led by Gary McIndoe and will be based in Clarke Willmott's Manchester office. It will become part of the commercial services division, headed by partner and head of the Manchester office, Ed Foulkes. The team is expected to complete its full integration into the firm in early November.
Mr McIndoe, who founded Latitude Law almost 20 years ago, said: “When I started Latitude Law almost 20 years ago, I didn’t envisage it would grow into such a widely recognised specialist firm. I am extremely proud of the talented and dedicated team we have built, and of the strength of service we provide to clients across business and private wealth. Joining Clarke Willmott is an exciting and positive next step for us. We share culture, values and vision, and I’m confident that together we can offer our clients an even stronger service.”
Growth strategy and client impact
Mr Swinburn added: “Just as importantly, they share our values and our commitment to building trusted, long-term relationships that deliver excellent outcomes for our clients, our people and the communities we serve. This acquisition represents an exciting step forward in our growth strategy and strengthens our ability to support clients with an increasingly important area of law.”
Mr Foulkes noted: “Latitude Law joining us is an exciting time for the firm and the Manchester office. The acquisition reinforces Clarke Willmott's continued investment in strategic growth and its commitment to providing clients with a comprehensive range of specialist legal services across the UK. It's a really positive development for the firm and another important milestone for the Manchester office.”
The acquisition expands Clarke Willmott's service offering in business immigration, a field that has grown in importance for corporates and high-net-worth individuals navigating Home Office requirements. The full integration of the Latitude Law team is scheduled for early November, after which the combined practice will operate under the Clarke Willmott brand from its Manchester base.
