Vault Private Client: Lucy Cresswell and Russell Kaminski
Private equity-backed Beyond Law Group has completed its consumer law offering after launching a private client law firm as part of significant expansion plans.
Beyond has hired partner Russell Kaminski, together with associate Lucy Cresswell, from Manchester firm JMW to lead Vault Private Client.
Last year, Waterland Private Equity became a minority owner of the group, which is headquartered in Manchester and also runs Beyond Corporate, McAlister Family Law and Home Property Law.
Vault Private Client will operate from the group’s Manchester and Cheshire offices and offer a full range of services.
Mr Kaminski said: “This is a unique opportunity to challenge the status quo in what is often considered to be a stagnant and slow-moving area of law. Our aim is clear: to redefine the private client sector in the North West by setting a new standard in service, trust and client relationships.”
Beyond Law Group was established in 2017 by Matt Fleetwood, previously head of Fieldfisher’s Manchester office, and quickly acquired corporate firm Atticus Law, before hiring Amanda McAlister from Slater & Gordon to set up the family practice.
Mr Fleetwood insisted that Vault was not “just another private client team”. He told Legal Futures: “It’s a purpose-built, specialist legal practice within Beyond Law Group that combines boutique, personal service with the scale, infrastructure and multidisciplinary support of the wider group. This is a completely unique offering and structure across the region.”
He added that he expected to announce additional appointments into the team soon.
A private client practice had been on the agenda from before Waterfield’s investment, he went on.
But since last year’s deal, Mr Fleetwood said, “we have identified several opportunities to develop our existing practices in primary locations across the UK, and also have a pipeline of new partner hires, team lifts and strategic acquisitions on the books”.
These would not only strengthen existing services but add new specialist capabilities and practices to Beyond’s portfolio, he said.
