A fee-sharing firm founded six years ago is approaching a headcount of 300 partners after acquiring a London practice.

Spencer West will take on 11 extra staff including eight partners from the boutique practice Theobald Associates. Founder and principal Bradley Theobald is part of the team moving across. The move comes on the back of bringing in a seven-person team from private wealth business Hieron LLP and six recruits from Selig + Partners in the second half of last year.

Spencer West co-founders Simeon Spencer and Antoine West (pictured) said the additions reflected the continued attraction of the fee-sharing model for individuals and specialist legal businesses.

They added: ‘This latest acquisition will enable us to strengthen our position in the rapidly developing biotech market with the Theobald Associates team bringing their own expertise in the sector to build on specialisms within our existing team.’

The firm has also opened a Cyprus office in the heart of Nicosia as part of its stated aim to become the biggest international firm of its type.

The co-owners said: ‘We’ll do this predominantly through organic growth driven by the increasing interest in our model and the number of people wanting to join us.

However, that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t pursue further acquisitions should the right opportunities arise. We’ve shown we can use a number of methods to drive growth and we’ll carry on doing so where that’s in the interests of our business.’

The firm recruited 67 new UK-based partners and 20 international partners across five jurisdictions in 2023, with revenue increased by 76%.

Meanwhile, central and east of England firm Howes Percival has its first presence in Oxford after acquiring the specialist commercial, IP and media practice Maier Blackburn. Partners Cathleen Blackburn and Steven Maier join with immediate effect after running the business for 12 years.