Deloitte acquisitions expand specialist IP and HR services

Deloitte has purchased two firms in the UK. Global intellectual property consultancy ClearViewIP and human resources and reward specialist Stitch Communications have been picked up as the Big Four firm continues a global acquisition campaign on multiple fronts.

Global professional services leader Deloitte has committed to a number of acquisitions across its international operations in 2019. In January, Deloitte acquired CloudinIT, a New Zealand-based IT consultancy specialised in Salesforce and Amazon cloud services, then in March, the firm boosted its cyber analytics capabilities through the acquisition of boutique Sydney-based risk consultancy Converging Data Australia. In May, the Big Four followed that up with the purchase of Pervorm, an online marketing agency specialised in digital marketing and digital transformation services in the Netherlands.

Now, the firm has continued its global strengthening with the capture of two firms in the UK. The two deals see ClearViewIP, a global intellectual property (IP) consulting and transaction advisory business, become part of the Deloitte network alongside human capital specialist Stitch Communications.

Founded in 2007, ClearViewIP works to help clients exploit IP more effectively, leveraging a team of chief IP officers, business builders, licensing executives and technologists, many of whom have worked with multinational FTSE 350 and Fortune 100 companies, as well as SMEs and academic institutions. Founder and CEO, Jon Calvert, now becomes a Deloitte Partner and will continue to lead the team, operating under the Deloitte IP advisory services division.

Calvert said of the news, “We are excited to join Deloitte as it accelerates our ability to support a broader client base and enhances Deloitte’s mission of providing a wide range of value creation services.”

Remarking on the deal, Andrew Robinson, leader of Deloitte’s specialist valuation group, said, “It has long been recognised that managing IP is vital in enabling businesses to deliver their commercial objectives and create long-term value. However, the strategy and management side is rapidly growing in importance. This move enables us to offer our clients enhanced ways of safeguarding and commercialising their innovation and IP investment.”

Stitch Communications is an internal communications agency, specialising in creating pay and reward communications that help employers to better engage their staff. The company was founded in 2011, and its Bristol-based team has now officially joined Deloitte to help build the firm’s current offerings for HR programmes, such as reward and benefit strategies.

Mitul Shah, Partner and Reward Leader at Deloitte, said, “Our decision to invite the Stitch Communications team to join Deloitte was about enhancing the services we can provide to clients by having industry leading communication experts who specialise in making the complicated clear. Bringing the team on board will further elevate the service we provide our clients in designing, implementing, managing and communicating HR and reward programmes.”

Emma Dawson, Managing Director of Stitch Communications, added, “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Stitch. We’ve always known a bold and engaging communications strategy is vital if businesses want to truly connect with their employees. Being part of such a recognised and trusted team as Deloitte’s Global Employer Services will enable us to enhance our communications offering further than ever before. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Stitch as a Deloitte business.”