Irwin Mitchell's legal services arm has acquired the commercial debt recovery division of Sheffield-based P&A Receivables Services.

The acquisition has been made through Ascent, Irwin Mitchell's debt collection, litigation and recovery services business.

P&A Receivables Services will be rebranded as Ascent Commercial and will provide UK and international debt recovery across a variety of sectors.

Irwin Mitchell's group chief executive, Andrew Tucker, said: "This is another important acquisition for the group and a sign of our continued ambition to expand across the UK."

The firm did not disclose the cost of the acquisition.

Irwin Mitchell has been on an expansion push since it received its alternative business structure (ABS) licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority in August 2012, which allows non-lawyers to own stakes in the firm and opens the possibility of external investment.

The firm has made seven acquisitions – including debt recovery law firm HL Interactive in March 2014 and private wealth boutique Berkeley Law in November 2014 – since it was awarded the ABS licence.

In 2014 Irwin Mitchell launched IMe Law, an ABS joint venture with insurance company esure. The insurer is a long-standing client of Irwin Mitchell and the joint venture provides legal representation for esure customers.

At the same time the firm also confirmed that it had arranged a £60m finance deal with three banks, with a further £30m facility available if needed. This transaction was arranged with a view to further expansion.

Irwin Mitchell also added offices in Southampton and Cambridge in 2014 and opened a Middlesbrough consulting office in May this year.