Essex law firm, Birkett Long LLP, has acquired the Colchester firm of Jackson and Partners, effective 1 May 2009.

Jackson and Partners is successor practice to the firms of Elwes Smith and Jackson, Wittey Denton and Pawsey, Elwes Wittey and Co and Jackson and Powis who have been providing legal services for clients in Colchester and the local area since before 1850. The firm has grown into a forward thinking practice with a wide commercial portfolio, which includes the East of England Cooperative Society, as well as handling legal matters such as wills, property and accident claims for individual clients. Lead lawyers, David Temperton and Peter Thorpe, will bring to Birkett Long their specialist knowledge in commercial and residential property and private client work respectively.

Philip George, Birkett Long’s Managing Partner, said: “This acquisition will add strength and depth to our firm and provide stability for the clients of Jackson and Partners, each of whom will be able to access the broad range of specialisms in house at Birkett Long. We recognise that recession is a time to consolidate but we are focusing on the future and believe that our actions today will put us in good stead to move forward when the economic climate improves.”

David Temperton, Jackson and Partners’ Senior Partner, added “We have long admired Birkett Long as a leading Colchester firm with the highest standards of client care and integrity. We are very pleased to be joining a firm which has a long history and tradition, like Jackson and Partners, but which can offer our clients a vast range of specialist skills linked with cutting edge modern technology”.