Berwin Leighton Paisner
Former international UK law firm focused on real estate, finance, corporate work, litigation, risk, private wealth and tax.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Berwin Leighton Paisner, commonly known as BLP, was an international law firm headquartered in London. It operated across 14 offices in 10 countries and advised clients in areas including real estate, finance, litigation, corporate risk, private wealth and tax. The firm was created on 1 May 2001 through the merger of Berwin Leighton and Paisner & Co, bringing together nearly 1,000 staff and 122 partners. Its headquarters remained at Adelaide House in London. BLP's institutional history drew on three predecessor practices. Paisner & Co was established in 1932 by Leslie Paisner and provided general legal advice. Leighton & Co was founded by Lionel Leighton in 1942 and developed a practice in litigation and property development. Berwin & Co was established by Stanley Berwin in 1963, with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and tax. Leighton & Co and Berwin & Co combined in 1970 to form Berwin Leighton, which later merged with Paisner & Co to create BLP. The firm built its profile around complex commercial legal work, particularly transactions and disputes connected with property and financial markets. Its other practices included corporate advice, risk management, private wealth and tax. BLP also developed international arrangements and offices covering markets in Europe, Asia, Russia and the Middle East. In 2009, it formed Goltsblat BLP, a 70-person joint venture with a Russian firm; the arrangement was described as the only joint venture of its type between an international and local law firm in Russia at that time. BLP was also associated with the creation of Lawyers On Demand in 2007. The flexible legal-services business was founded by Simon Harper, a BLP partner, and Jonathan Brenner, who was then the firm's head of recruitment. This initiative reflected an effort to provide legal support through a model distinct from the traditional law-firm partnership structure. Neville Eisenberg became managing partner of Berwin Leighton in 1999 and continued as BLP's managing partner after the 2001 merger. Lisa Mayhew was elected to succeed him in May 2015. BLP remained a standalone firm until April 2018, when it merged with the US law firm Bryan Cave of St. Louis. The combined practice became Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, bringing the BLP name into a new international firm led by Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard. Berwin Leighton Paisner therefore ceased to operate as an independent brand after the merger.
History
Berwin Leighton Paisner's history combined three predecessor practices with different areas of legal specialization. Paisner & Co was founded in 1932 by Leslie Paisner and provided general legal advice. Lionel Leighton established Leighton & Co in 1942, with work centered on litigation and property development. Stanley Berwin founded Berwin & Co in 1963, building a practice in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and tax. The first major combination occurred in 1970, when Leighton & Co merged with Berwin & Co. The resulting firm, Berwin Leighton, moved into Adelaide House in London. Neville Eisenberg became managing partner of Berwin Leighton in 1999. Two years later, on 1 May 2001, Berwin Leighton merged with Paisner & Co to form Berwin Leighton Paisner. The new firm began with nearly 1,000 staff and 122 partners, and retained Adelaide House as its headquarters. BLP developed as a broad commercial law practice with a particularly strong emphasis on real estate, finance, litigation and dispute resolution. It also advised on corporate risk, private wealth and tax. The firm's international network eventually comprised 14 offices across 10 countries, with coverage in Europe, Asia, Russia and the Middle East. Its international development included the 2009 creation of Goltsblat BLP, a 70-person Russian joint venture described in the reference material as the only joint venture between an international and local firm in Russia at that time. The firm also participated in changes to the delivery of legal services. In 2007, Simon Harper, a BLP partner, and Jonathan Brenner, then the firm's head of recruitment, founded Lawyers On Demand. The venture offered a more flexible model for obtaining legal support and became an identifiable initiative associated with BLP's broader approach to legal-services innovation. Eisenberg led BLP until May 2015, when Lisa Mayhew was elected managing partner. The firm continued operating as an international practice until April 2018. It then merged with Bryan Cave, a law firm based in St. Louis, United States. The combined organization was named Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and was led by Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard. The merger ended Berwin Leighton Paisner's existence as an independent law-firm brand, although the BLP name was retained within the successor firm's name.
- 2018
Merger with Bryan Cave
[1]BLP merged with Bryan Cave to create Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
- 2015
Lisa Mayhew becomes managing partner
[1]Lisa Mayhew succeeded Neville Eisenberg as managing partner.
- 2009
Goltsblat BLP established
[1]BLP formed a Russian joint venture known as Goltsblat BLP with a 70-person team.
- 2007
Lawyers On Demand established
[1]Simon Harper and Jonathan Brenner founded Lawyers On Demand in connection with BLP.
- 2001
Berwin Leighton Paisner formed
[1]Berwin Leighton and Paisner & Co merged on 1 May, creating BLP with nearly 1,000 staff and 122 partners.
- 1970
Leighton & Co merges with Berwin & Co
[1]The two practices combined to form Berwin Leighton and moved to Adelaide House in London.
- 1963
Berwin & Co founded
[1]Stanley Berwin established Berwin & Co with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and tax.
- 1942
Leighton & Co founded
[1]Lionel Leighton founded Leighton & Co, which advised on litigation and property development.
- 1932
Paisner & Co founded
[1]Leslie Paisner established Paisner & Co, a predecessor practice that provided general legal advice.
Products and positioning
International law firm serving clients in real estate, finance, corporate transactions, disputes, risk, private wealth and tax.
Legal services
Real estate legal services
A core BLP practice supporting clients on property development, investment, transactions and related commercial matters. The firm's history included the property-development work of Leighton & Co, and real estate remained one of the principal areas for which BLP was known.
Legal services
Finance and corporate finance
BLP advised clients on finance and corporate-finance matters. This capability also reflected the heritage of Berwin & Co, whose stated areas included corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and tax.
Legal services
Litigation and dispute resolution
The firm provided litigation and dispute-resolution advice, building on the litigation background of the Leighton predecessor practice and serving commercial clients through its international network.
Legal services
Corporate risk, private wealth and tax
BLP offered advisory work covering corporate risk, private wealth and tax. These services complemented its transactional and disputes practices and broadened the firm's support for companies, institutions and private clients.
Flexible legal services · 2007
Lawyers On Demand
Established in 2007 by BLP partner Simon Harper and recruitment head Jonathan Brenner, Lawyers On Demand was a flexible legal-services venture associated with the firm. It represented a different delivery model from the conventional full-service law-firm engagement.
Brand decisions
2018
Merger with Bryan CaveM&ABackground
BLP and Bryan Cave were separate international law firms with bases in the United Kingdom and United States respectively.
Action taken
The firms merged in April 2018 to create Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
Aftermath
BLP ceased operating as an independent firm, while its name continued within the successor firm's name. Lisa Mayhew and Therese Pritchard led the combined organization.
2009
Formation of Goltsblat BLPStrategyBackground
BLP sought an international presence in Russia through a relationship with a local firm.
Action taken
It formed Goltsblat BLP, a 70-person joint venture between an international and local practice.
Aftermath
The venture became part of BLP's international network and was described as unique of its type in Russia at the time.
2001
Merger creating Berwin Leighton PaisnerM&ABackground
Berwin Leighton and Paisner & Co were established predecessor practices with complementary histories and legal capabilities.
Action taken
The two firms merged on 1 May 2001, creating BLP with nearly 1,000 staff and 122 partners.
Aftermath
The new firm retained Adelaide House in London as its headquarters and operated as an international commercial law practice.
Recent events
- 2018
Berwin Leighton Paisner merges with Bryan Cave[1]
M&A · Leadership change
BLP merged with the St. Louis-based US law firm Bryan Cave to form Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
- 2015
Lisa Mayhew elected managing partner[1]
Leadership change
Lisa Mayhew succeeded Neville Eisenberg as BLP's managing partner.
- 2009
Goltsblat BLP joint venture formed in Russia[1]
M&A
BLP formed Goltsblat BLP with a 70-person team in a joint venture with a Russian firm.
- 2007
BLP creates Lawyers On Demand[1]
Product launch
BLP partner Simon Harper and recruitment head Jonathan Brenner established Lawyers On Demand, a flexible legal-services business.
Sources1 sources
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