Tyr Law Opens New Bristol Office Amid Continued Growth 2026

Key Points

• Leeds-based law firm Tyr has launched a new office in Bristol city centre, marking its first South West expansion
• The firm currently employs more than 60 staff including 20 partners across its operations
• Tyr has entered its eighth year of business and grew turnover by 20 per cent in 2024/25
• Experienced litigators Darren Kidd and Martin Cox both joined Tyr from prestigious legal backgrounds to lead the Bristol office
• Before Tyr, Darren Kidd worked at Herbert Smith Freehills (now HSF Kramer), Stewarts, and Clarke Willmott
• Martin Cox worked with Kidd at Stewarts and Clarke Willmott and was previously at Freshfields
• The pair advise on domestic and international commercial disputes with specialism in banking and financial services matters
• Tyr provides full-service offering including commercial property, corporate law, employment, and construction under one roof
• Alistair Kennedy, partner at Tyr, stated opening another office demonstrates the firm’s ambitions
• Turner predicted to grow by a further 20 per cent this financial year as Tyr approaches ten-year financial goals
• Darren Kidd said launching the Bristol office presents an exciting time for both the firm and Bristol legal market
• The Bristol office address is Newminster House, 27-29 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT

City Centre (Bristol Express News) June 18, 2026 – Leeds-based Tyr, a commercial law firm that has recently entered its eighth year of business, has officially opened its new Bristol city centre office as part of its continued expansion strategy.

The firm, which currently employs more than 60 staff including 20 partners, reported turnover growth of 20 per cent in 2024/25 and predicts another 20 per cent increase this financial year as it works toward its ten-year financial goals.

The new office is located at Newminster House, 27-29 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1LT, placing Tyr in the heart of Bristol’s legal district.

How did Darren Kidd and Martin Cox come to join Tyr for the Bristol expansion?

As reported by the original news source covering Tyr’s expansion, experienced litigators Darren Kidd and Martin Cox both join Tyr from prestigious legal backgrounds to lead the Bristol office.

Before joining Tyr in January 2026, Kidd worked previously at Herbert Smith Freehills (now HSF Kramer), Stewarts, and Clarke Willmott.

Martin Cox worked with Kidd at Stewarts and Clarke Willmott and was previously at Freshfields, a Magic Circle law firm where he trained and qualified.

According to Martin Cox’s firm profile, he has over a decade in the City of London, having undertaken secondments to Berlin’s office and the Legal Unit of the Bank of England.

The pair advise on a wide range of domestic and international commercial disputes, with a specialism in banking and financial services matters.

Martin Cox specialises in high-value and complex commercial disputes, often with cross-border elements, and has wide experience in professional negligence claims including against barristers, solicitors, insurance brokers, financial advisors, and investment advisors.

What services does Tyr offer clients through its new Bristol location?

Tyr continues to provide a full-service offering to clients, with services such as commercial property, corporate law, employment and construction all at the firm, enabling clients to obtain their legal services under one roof.

The firm ensures that all its partners and senior fee-earners have backgrounds in leading national and international law firms.

The Bristol office directly dial contact is +44 (0)117 244 2690 for Martin Cox, who acts for a variety of clients from high-net-worth individuals to large corporates. Martin acts across sectors including banking and finance, telecommunications, utilities, retail, sport and leisure, and media.

What statements did Tyr partners make about the Bristol office opening?

Darren Kidd said:

“Joining Tyr and launching our Bristol office presents an exciting time for both the firm and the Bristol legal market, and I am very much looking forward to growing Tyr’s premium service in the South West”.

As reported by the original coverage, Alistair Kennedy, partner at Tyr and founding member of the firm, said:

“Opening another office demonstrates the firm’s ambitions and reflects its exceptional work over recent years. Darren and Martin joining Tyr is a first step towards us providing a full service to Bristol and the wider market”.

Alistair Kennedy is the Founding Partner and Head of Commercial Litigation at Tyr, having been a founding member since 2019 when the firm launched in Leeds on 1 May with an initial team of eight. The firm was launched by partners Alistair Kennedy, Dean Jowett and Matthew Fidler.

How has Tyr grown since founding in 2019?

Tyr Law opened in Leeds last May and has gone through a very successful initial period, tripling in size and taking significant office space at 36 Park Row, considerably exceeding its projected turnover.

The firm has since moved into new office space at 2 The Embankment, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4BA, its current head office address.

The firm has continued building on recent success by recruiting additional partners, including employment partner Matthew Yates and corporate partner Amy Woodfine who brings more than 17 years of M&A, tech and cross-border experience.

The corporate department expects to see growth of turnover of 40 per cent this year and aims to continue this trend with Amy’s addition.

Tyr is well on its way to achieving its ten-year financial goals, with turnover predicted to grow by a further 20 per cent this financial year following the 20 per cent growth in 2024/25.

The firm was shortlisted for Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year at the 2026 Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards for Alistair Kennedy’s recognition.

Where is Tyr legally registered and regulated?

Tyr and Tyr Law are trading names of Jowett Kennedy Fidler LLP, a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales with registration number OC425850. The firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 656843.

The registered office is at 2 The Embankment, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4BA, with the firm operating from Leeds plus one other office (Bristol). Contact for press and firm information is James Hudson at james.hudson@tyrlaw.co.uk.

Background of the Development

Tyr Law launched on 1 May 2019 by partners Alistair Kennedy, Dean Jowett and Matthew Fidler with an initial team of eight and a city centre office in Leeds.

The boutique commercial law firm has gone through a very successful initial period, tripling in size and considerably exceeding its projected turnover.

The firm entered its eighth year of business in 2026, having grown from eight initial staff to more than 60 staff including 20 partners. Turner growth of 20 per cent in 2024/25 positioned the firm well for its South West expansion.

Darren Kidd’s experience includes working internationally and in-house, acting for clients including high net worth individuals, airlines, banks, financial authorities, hedge funds, insolvency practitioners, insurance companies, law firms, telecommunications companies and trustees.

At his previous firm Stewarts, Kidd’s caseload included advising over 350 individuals, including well-known personalities, in group litigation involving claims in fraudulent misrepresentation, conspiracy and negligence against various parties including large banks.

Martin Cox trained, qualified and practised for ten years in the City of London at Freshfields LLP and Stewarts, before moving to Acuity in Cardiff and then becoming a Partner in the Financial Services Litigation team at Clarke Willmott in Cardiff from June 2025 to January 2026.

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Prediction: How This Development Can affect Legal Services Clients in the South West

The opening of Tyr’s Bristol office can affect legal services clients in the South West by providing access to the firm’s full-service offering without needing to travel to Leeds.

Clients in banking and finance, telecommunications, utilities, retail, sport and leisure, and media sectors in the South West will now have direct access to experienced litigators specialising in high-value and complex commercial disputes.

The Bristol office enables South West businesses to obtain commercial property, corporate law, employment and construction legal services under one roof, potentially reducing transaction times and costs for local firms.

Companies operating in the South West with domestic and international commercial disputes, particularly banking and financial services matters, can now access Tyr’s premium service locally.

The firm’s predicted 20 per cent turnover growth this financial year suggests continued investment in the Bristol office, which could mean expanded service capacity and potentially more partner availability for South West clients in the coming year.

Local clients may benefit from Tyr’s network of partners with backgrounds in leading national and international law firms, providing access to expertise typically found only in larger City firms.

The Bristol office location at Newminster House on Baldwin Street places Tyr in proximity to other significant legal practices in the city, potentially facilitating collaborations and expanding service options for clients requiring specialised legal support.