Barlow Lyde & Gilbert
Professional services
UnclaimedA London-founded international law firm focused on commercial disputes, insurance, reinsurance and related specialist legal services until its 2011 merger with Clyde & Co.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, commonly known as BLG, was a United Kingdom law firm founded in 1841 in the City of London. It developed from a long-established London practice into an international firm with particular strength in commercial litigation, dispute resolution, insurance, reinsurance and professional liability. Its work also covered aerospace, marine, energy, trade, corporate matters, commercial and information-technology law, and employment and pensions. The firm expanded beyond the United Kingdom during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. It opened its first overseas office in Hong Kong in 1986, followed by Singapore in 2004. Within the United Kingdom it established offices in Oxford in 2008 and Manchester in 2009. The firm also developed a presence in Shanghai and pursued an office in São Paulo, reflecting its focus on cross-border insurance, transport, trade and commercial disputes. Its international structure included affiliated or locally regulated practices, including a separate Hong Kong partnership. BLG underwent organizational and structural changes during the 2000s. In 2007 it introduced the associate-director role between associate and partner as part of a management restructuring. The London and Singapore practices transferred to a limited liability partnership on 1 May 2007, with the Shanghai practice subsequently transferred following regulatory clearance. The period also included partner departures, leadership succession and competitive movement of specialist teams to other firms. The firm was especially visible in complex and sensitive disputes. In 2008 it was appointed to act as solicitors to the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian man who was shot by London police in 2005. In 2010 it strengthened its Manchester insurance operation by acquiring the insurance business of the failed law firm Halliwells, bringing in a 17-partner team and approximately 220 additional staff, including 80 fee-earners. BLG entered merger discussions with Clyde & Co in 2011. The partnerships approved the transaction in July, and the combined practice adopted the Clyde & Co name. The merger was completed on 1 November 2011, bringing Barlow Lyde & Gilbert to an end as an independent firm. The transaction was accompanied by partner departures and preceded by the transfer or sale of parts of the firm's international and specialist practices. Its legacy is therefore primarily reflected in Clyde & Co's subsequent insurance, disputes and international commercial practice rather than in a continuing standalone BLG brand.
History
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert was founded in 1841 in the City of London and became a long-established UK law firm with a specialist orientation toward commercial disputes, insurance and reinsurance. Rather than operating primarily as a general consumer-facing practice, it built its reputation through complex business disputes and legal work for insurers, reinsurers, professional firms and businesses operating in highly regulated or asset-intensive sectors. Its international development began with the opening of an office in Hong Kong in 1986. Singapore followed in 2004, extending the firm's reach across important Asian insurance and commercial markets. The firm later opened offices in Oxford in 2008 and Manchester in 2009, while also maintaining or developing operations in London and Shanghai. In January 2009, it was reported to have applied for a licence to establish an office in São Paulo. The firm's overseas operations did not all have an identical legal structure: after the 2007 restructuring, the Hong Kong practice continued as a separate but affiliated partnership, while the London and Singapore practices transferred to Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP and the Shanghai practice followed after regulatory approval. The firm changed its internal organization during the 2000s. In 2007 it created an associate-director level between associate and partner, initially appointing 36 associates. The same year, a three-partner commercial litigation team led by Clare Canning moved to Mayer Brown. In 2008 Simon Konsta was announced as successor to Richard Dedman as senior partner. BLG was also selected to act as solicitors to the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, a high-profile matter involving the fatal shooting of a Brazilian man by London police. BLG expanded its Manchester insurance operation in July 2010 by acquiring the insurance practice of Halliwells, a law firm that had failed. The transaction brought a 17-partner team and around 220 additional personnel into BLG, including 80 fee-earners. The expansion was followed by changes to specialist teams: in March 2011 the firm's aviation group announced plans to move to Holman Fenwick Willan. In May 2011 S Parmar took ownership of the Asian portion of the international BLG practice and departed before the later merger. In June 2011 BLG and Clyde & Co entered merger discussions. Both partnerships approved the transaction in July. In August the firms announced that the combined organization would operate under the Clyde & Co name, while approximately 15 percent of BLG's 100 partners were expected to leave. The merger completed on 1 November 2011. After that date Barlow Lyde & Gilbert no longer operated as an independent law firm, and its business and institutional legacy became part of Clyde & Co.
- 2011
Merger with Clyde & Co completed
[1]The firms completed their merger on 1 November, adopting the Clyde & Co name.
- 2010
Halliwells insurance business acquired
[1]BLG acquired Halliwells' Manchester insurance practice and added a substantial team.
- 2009
Manchester office opens
[1]The firm expanded its UK regional presence with a Manchester office.
- 2008
Oxford office opens and senior-partner succession announced
[1]BLG opened an Oxford office and announced Simon Konsta as successor to Richard Dedman.
- 2007
Organizational restructuring and LLP transfers
[1]BLG introduced the associate-director rank and transferred its London and Singapore practices to an LLP structure.
- 2004
Singapore office opens
[1]The firm extended its Asian network to Singapore.
- 1986
First overseas office opens in Hong Kong
[1]BLG began its international expansion with an office in Hong Kong.
- 1841
Firm founded in the City of London
[1]Barlow Lyde & Gilbert was established as a London law firm.
Products and positioning
A specialist international commercial law firm with a strong market profile in insurance, reinsurance, disputes and professional liability, supported by sector practices in transport, energy and trade.
Legal services
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
BLG advised and represented businesses in commercial litigation and other contentious proceedings. The practice formed part of the firm's core identity and included complex disputes requiring cross-border coordination, specialist evidence and sector knowledge.
Legal services
Insurance and Reinsurance
Insurance, reinsurance and international risk work were among BLG's principal offerings. The firm supported insurers, reinsurers and other market participants on disputes, coverage questions, risk allocation and related commercial matters.
Legal services
Professional Liability
The professional-liability practice handled legal issues involving professional services, alleged negligence and related claims. It complemented BLG's wider disputes and insurance capabilities.
Sector legal services
Aerospace, Marine, Energy and Trade
BLG maintained specialist practices serving transport and resource-related industries, including aerospace, marine, energy and trade. These areas connected the firm's contentious work with commercially complex and internationally regulated sectors.
Legal services
Corporate, Commercial and IT
The firm also provided corporate, commercial and information-technology advice, supporting transactions, business relationships and technology-related legal requirements alongside its disputes and insurance practices.
Legal services
Employment and Pensions
Employment and pensions work formed part of BLG's broader business-law offering, addressing workplace relationships, employment obligations and pension-related matters.
Brand decisions
2011
Merger with Clyde & CoM&ABackground
BLG was in discussions with Clyde & Co about combining their international legal practices.
Action taken
The partnerships approved the merger, and the combined firm adopted the Clyde & Co name. Completion took place on 1 November 2011.
Aftermath
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert ceased to exist as an independent firm. Around 15 percent of BLG's partners were reported to be leaving as part of the combination.
2010
Acquisition of Halliwells' Manchester insurance businessM&ABackground
Halliwells had failed, creating an opportunity for BLG to expand its regional insurance practice and recruit an established team.
Action taken
BLG acquired the Manchester-based insurance business, bringing in 17 partners and approximately 220 staff, including 80 fee-earners.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened BLG's Manchester insurance presence before the firm entered merger discussions with Clyde & Co the following year.
Sources1 sources
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