Berrymans Lace Mawer has taken the unusual step of opening a new office in Cardiff, the top 60 UK firm announced today (29 October).

The new office, which opens for business on Thursday (1 November), will be headed by personal injury specialist Matthew Harrington, who joins the firm as a partner from local outfit Cartwright Black.

The 117-partner firm said it intends to service clients in south Wales and Bristol from its new Cardiff arm.

The news means Berrymans becomes one of the few major commercial law firms to have established a presence in Cardiff, although Morgan Cole and national giant Eversheds both have bases in the Welsh capital.

Other notable developments in the market of late include local firm Hugh James announcing plans this summer to create 135 new jobs as part of a major expansion programme across its Cardiff headquarters.

The latest news comes after Berrymans this summer hired personal injury partner Roger Brooks, who joined the firm's Manchester arm from Halliwells, and Stephen Hazleton, who joined the Birmingham office from niche insurance practice Eldridge & Co.

Harrington said in a statement: "The support from a national practice will enable me and my team to improve and develop the service that we area able to offer our clients."

He added: "Having known [Berrymans] for many years as co-defendants and working to support mutual clients as co-panellists, I know that we share the same vision and values."

In addition to its new Cardiff arm, insurance specialist Berrymans has seven other offices across the UK, with bases in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton and Stockton-on-Tees complemented by a presence in the City.