Forresters, a leading intellectual property specialist founded in Birmingham, is expanding its operations in the UK with the opening of a new office in Merseyside after acquiring a North West firm.

The pan-European company, which also has offices in London, Moscow and Munich, has completed the acquisition of Birkenhead-based patent and trademark specialists Potts, Kerr & Co. which has now been renamed Forresters.

Forresters is ranked as one of the top intellectual property law firms in the UK and has represented high profile cases at the House of Lords (now known as The Supreme Court). 

"Sharing a common name and presenting a more unified approach will strengthen the association between our offices and provide clients throughout the UK and worldwide with easier access to our resources, specialist capabilities and expertise," said Matthew Shaw, a partner based at the firm's Birmingham office.

Forresters partner Ross Walker, who leads the Merseyside operation, said: "The North West is a fast growing region with a lot of potential. Our new office will enable us to assist businesses across the area in reaching their commercial goals.

"This is a huge opportunity for Forresters and we look forward to forging relationships with the North West business community."

Intellectual property plays a vital role in defining the ingenuity of innovators such as scientists, engineers, researchers and designers, and protects that innovation commercially, whilst providing legal recognition of inventions, brand names or logos, and designs.

Forresters was established as Ketley's at 128 Colmore Row in Birmingham in 1884. It is now one of the UK's leading and larger intellectual property specialists employing more than 100 people in the country and with offices and associates worldwide. Earlier this year, it relocated its London office to larger premises.