Bermans

Overview

Bermans is a partner-led, multi‑award winning full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool with a significant presence in Manchester. Founded in 1970, the firm has built a national reputation for pragmatic, accessible commercial advice and is widely recognised as a market leader in Asset Finance and Invoice Finance. Bermans sits within the MAPD Group and combines specialist sector expertise (notably invoice/asset finance and creditor services) with broad commercial capability across corporate, property, employment and dispute resolution.

Headquarters: Liverpool, Exchange Station
Founded: 1970
Lawyers: 45+
Offices: 2

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Banking & Finance
Insolvency & Restructuring
Corporate & M&A
Commercial Contracts
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Employment
Real Estate
Construction & Engineering
Intellectual Property
Private Client & Wealth
Sports Law
Financial Services & Regulation

Geographic Focus: The firm has its strongest footprint in the North West (Liverpool and Manchester) and emphasises national coverage for UK clients, serving banks, funders and corporates across the UK. Bermans advises clients who operate UK‑wide and internationally and positions itself to support cross‑border matters (the firm pages reference work for national and international lessors and financiers and list New York alongside Liverpool and Manchester on sector pages).

Training Contract

Bermans recruits trainee solicitors into its Liverpool and Manchester offices and provides qualification routes by both the LPC and the SQE (QWE). Training is partner-led, with exposure across the firm's commercial practices; the firm states it seeks to retain trainees following qualification and many partners and fee-earners are former trainees. The website does not publish a detailed fixed-seat rotation structure or explicit seat lengths; trainees are placed into practice teams aligned to the firm's core commercial departments.

Application Deadline: 31 January 2026

Seat Options

Asset Finance
Invoice Finance
Creditor Services
Employment
Property and Construction
Insolvency & Restructuring
Corporate & M&A
Commercial Contracts
Intellectual Property
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Private Client & Wealth
Sports Law

Mentorship

The firm highlights a training programme, staff engagement initiatives and a partner-led model which together provide on-the-job mentorship. Bermans states trainees are supported to understand firm culture and develop personal skills; several partners were previously trainees which suggests formal/informal mentor relationships between senior fee‑earners and trainees.

Apply on the Bermans website →

Notable Matters

Kiko UK Limited v Pianoforte Holdings SpA [2026] EWCA Civ 513 — Court of Appeal guarantee dispute

Acted for the Appellant in a significant Court of Appeal decision concerning the scope of a parent company guarantee under a commercial property lease. The judgment (2026) clarified the interpretation of the guarantee and was promoted by Bermans as a substantive victory for its client in lease guarantee litigation.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Advising Zentra Group on acquisition of New Islington site from Urban Splash

Senior partner James Harris is advising Manchester-based residential developer and development manager Zentra Group in the completion of its acquisition of a site in New Islington from Urban Splash, a transaction planned for a six‑storey apartment block with ground‑floor commercial unit. The work involves commercial property and development documentation, reflecting Bermans' role on sizable regional development transactions.

Real Estate

Advice and commentary on Close Brothers v Hopcraft (invoice/asset finance litigation)

Bermans' Asset & Invoice Finance team has engaged with the Close Brothers v Hopcraft litigation—publishing analysis and guidance on the implications for the invoice finance industry and applying its industry practice knowledge to assist clients with risk and litigation strategy in the asset/invoice finance sector.

Banking & Finance

What Bermans Looks For

Key Competencies

Commercial awareness
Client focus and service orientation
Practicality and problem solving
Drive and commitment
Teamwork and engagement
Sector focus (especially experience or interest in asset/invoice finance and creditor recovery)

Evidence Signals

Relevant sector experience in invoice finance, asset finance or creditor services
Prior paralegal or fee‑earner experience in commercial litigation, banking/finance or property
Examples of partner/ client-facing work or project ownership
Commercial transactional experience or exposure to debt recovery/insolvency matters
Contributions to newsletters, articles or sector analysis (demonstrating sector knowledge)

Benefits & Wellbeing

Partner-led training and direct exposure to senior fee‑earners
Staff engagement programmes
Internal training programme
Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation for property work (quality accreditation rather than a financial perk)
Subscription to firm newsletters and sector bulletins (Asset & Invoice Finance newsletter)

Awards & Recognition

Best Receivables Finance Lawyer 2021 (The Business Money Receivables Awards)
Recognised by Legal 500 as a top tier law firm for debt recovery
Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

Lead with sector expertise: emphasise any substantive experience or learning in invoice finance, asset finance or creditor recovery — Bermans markets itself as a market leader in these areas.
Reference partner‑led delivery: highlight examples where you worked closely with senior lawyers/clients and delivered pragmatic commercial outcomes, mirroring the firm's partner-led approach.
Use recent firm work as context: for property/corporate applications mention Bermans' role advising Zentra Group on the New Islington acquisition or the firm's Court of Appeal lease‑guarantee victory to show awareness of the firm's case work.
Demonstrate client focus and commerciality: give concrete examples of how you have prioritised client objectives, controlled costs or simplified complex issues — this aligns to Bermans' accessible, cost‑effective advice positioning.
Show willingness to develop in the North West market: stress ties to or interest in the Liverpool/Manchester markets and any regional networks or local commercial awareness.