Our Story

The founders

Spencer West is an international law firm founded in 2014, when City of London lawyers Simeon Spencer and Antoine West found themselves on opposite sides of a transaction. Recognising a shared entrepreneurial mindset and common set of values, they saw an opportunity to evolve the traditional law firm model, creating something more flexible, more collaborative, and better aligned to the needs of both clients and lawyers.

Forming Spencer West LLP

In 2014, Simeon Spencer and Antoine West found themselves on opposite sides of a corporate transaction but quickly realised they shared a common vision. Both driven by a corporate international background and entrepreneurial spirit, they envisioned a more flexible and client-focused approach to legal practice. This partnership, grounded in shared values, marked the beginning of Spencer West’s unique journey. 

By 2016, after two years of fruitful collaboration, Antoine formally merged his practice with Simeon’s firm. Together, they set out to build a law firm that prioritised technical excellence, a commitment to collaboration, and a business-minded approach. 

Building a community of talent

In 2018, Spencer West had grown into a successful two-partner City firm with a strong culture and a loyal client base. Recognising the potential to scale this model, Simeon and Antoine introduced a partner-led, flexible structure that combined the strengths of traditional practice with a more modern, entrepreneurial approach.

This marked the beginning of Spencer West’s evolution into a broader platform for experienced lawyers. The firm began attracting high-calibre talent from leading international firms and senior in-house roles—lawyers who valued autonomy, collaboration, and the opportunity to work differently.

By summer 2019, the firm had grown to 15 partners, united by a shared commitment to excellence and a more adaptable way of practising law.

A turning point: the global shift

The period from 2020 to 2021 marked a defining moment – not just for Spencer West, but for the legal profession as a whole.

As many senior lawyers re-evaluated how and where they worked, Spencer West’s model came into sharper focus. What had begun as a flexible, partner-led structure proved to be highly effective in enabling collaboration across locations, supporting more dynamic client relationships, and delivering work without the constraints of traditional office-based models.

By 2021, the firm recognised the full potential of this approach. The same model that had driven success in London could be applied internationally, bringing together high-quality lawyers across jurisdictions to deliver seamless, cross-border advice and to attract increasingly sophisticated, international work.

Scaling internationally

From 2022 onwards, Spencer West entered a new phase of growth, expanding beyond its UK roots into key international markets.

The firm grew rapidly across offshore jurisdictions, Europe, Africa, and beyond – establishing a presence in locations aligned with client demand and global business flows. This expansion strengthened the firm’s ability to operate as a truly cross-border practice, connecting lawyers across jurisdictions to support complex, multi-country matters.

By 2023, Spencer West had grown to over 260 partners, with new offices in Europe and strategic relationships across additional regions. The firm also broadened its capabilities in areas such as private wealth, reflecting the increasingly international nature of client needs.