80 years of delivering trusted, high-quality advice to clients in the UK and around the world
Celebrating 80 Years
In 2025, Blick Rothenberg marks 80 years of delivering trusted, high-quality advice to clients in the UK and around the world
Founded in 1945 by Helmut Rothenberg OBE, who rebuilt his life in London after leaving Germany during World War II, the firm began with just 36 clients and a total fee income of £2,061. From a single office on Copthall Avenue, now home to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Blick Rothenberg has grown into a leading advisory firm with more than 70 partners and directors and a team of over 700 professionals.
Over eight decades, Blick Rothenberg has remained true to its international outlook while expanding its capabilities to serve UK-based individuals and businesses alike. The firm’s early growth was marked by significant milestones, including the arrival of Helmut’s brother Henry as a partner in 1946, and later, the involvement of both Helmut’s sons, David and Bob.
More recently, strategic acquisitions and continued investment have fuelled further expansion. Between 2017 and 2025 the firm acquired Shelley Stock Hutter, Westleton Drake, Hazlems Fenton, Rees Pollock and Greenback Alan strengthening its position across the mid-market and private client space.
In 2020, Blick Rothenberg became part of the Azets group, backed by Hg Capital and PAI Partners, giving the firm the scale and technological capability to support clients in a rapidly changing business environment while retaining its distinctive brand and culture.
Throughout our history, one thing has remained constant: a commitment to putting people first, whether our clients, our teams, or our communities. As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, all Blick Rothenberg teams and services are now united under one roof at Great Queen Street, and we are proud to be an independent member of Allinial Global, continuing to support our clients wherever they do business.
Blick Rothenberg Celebrates 80 Years
Former Senior and Managing Partner Bob Rothenberg shares a brief history of the firm – from its founding by his father in 1945, to the present day – and looks ahead with the same passion, integrity and commitment that have shaped the firm’s journey.
Our history
1940s
1945 – Blick Rothenberg founded by Helmut Rothenberg OBE
1945 – Acquired first premises on Copthall Avenue, London
1946 – Henry Rothenberg joined as a partner
1960s
1960s – Eric Noble joined; firm became Blick Rothenberg & Noble
1970s
1977 – Bob Rothenberg joined the firm
1980s
1989 – Helmut Rothenberg retired; firm name reverted to Blick Rothenberg
1990s
1997 – Bob Rothenberg became Senior Partner
2000s
2003 – Founder Helmut Rothenberg passed away aged 88
2010s
2012 – Moved to Covent Garden, became LLP
2016 – Acquired by HgCapital / Cogital Group
2017 – Nilesh Shah became CEO; Bob Rothenberg continued as consultant
2017 – Acquired Shelley Stock Hutter
2018 – Acquired Westleton Drake & Hazlems Fenton
2019 – Acquired Rees Pollock
2020–2021
2020 – Remote working during Covid
2020 – Nimesh Shah became CEO
2020 – Cogital rebranded as Azets
2020 – Women’s Network launched
2021 – Rees Pollock fully integrated
2021 – Allinial Global membership
2021 – Rainbow LGBTQ+ & emBRace diversity networks launched
2021 – Mental health first aiders introduced
2022
2022 – BR Pathway 5-year plan launched
2022 – Sustainability journey began
2022 – CEO Nimesh Shah named Private Client Accountant of the Year
2022 – BRighter working framework launched
2023–2024
2023 – Won Audit Firm of the Year at Hedgeweek Emerging Manager Awards
2023 – Welcomed international secondments from Bentley’s Australia
2023 – Established employee Shadow Committee
2024 – PAI Partners became joint owner of Azets
2024 – Won Audit Firm of the Year at Hedgeweek Emerging Manager Awards
2024 – Launched BR DNA
2024 – Won Best Diversity, Equality & Inclusion initiative
2025
2025 – Acquired Greenback Alan
2025 – Won Accountancy Firm of the Year at Citywealth Magic Circle Awards
2025 – Won Audit Firm of the Year: Start-up at Hedgeweek EU Awards
Celebrating 80 years – The Tax Factor
Blick Rothenberg has always embraced innovation, from the way we serve our clients to how we share insight and expertise. As The Tax Factor podcast enters its third season, we’re proud to mark a very special milestone: our firm’s 80th anniversary.
To celebrate, we’ve created three unique episodes that each transport you back to a pivotal decade in our history. Of course, podcasts weren’t around in the 1940s, 60s, or 80s – so we’ve added a playful twist, recreating the styles of broadcasting that defined those eras.
The Taxation Factor – Newsreel
Straight from the 1940s, where the nation gathered in cinemas for the latest news.
Swinging Radio Tax Factor – The Big T
A 1960s-style pirate radio takeover, filled with the spirit of the swinging sixties.
Tax Factor FM 97.2 – Tax News for London and the Home Counties
A throwback to 1980s commercial radio in London.
It’s our history told in a way you’ve never heard before, blending sharp insight with a little nostalgic fun.
The Taxation Factor
Step back to the 1940s with our special “newsreel edition” of The Taxation Factor.
To mark Blick Rothenberg’s 80th anniversary, we revisit the year of Blick Rothenberg’s founding that shaped modern taxation in post-war Britain.
Presented in the style of a cinema newsreel, this episode explores the policies, challenges, and innovations that defined the era – from rebuilding the economy to the birth of the welfare state.
Swinging Radio Tax Factor
The Big T
It’s the 1960s – the Beatles are topping the charts, London is swinging, and tax is making headlines.
Join us for a lively “pirate radio-inspired” edition of The Tax Factor broadcasting from just off the Frinton coat and tune in to the decade of change on Swinging Radio Tax Factor.
From the introduction of new tax rules to the cultural shifts that shaped finance and society, this episode captures the energy of the sixties while uncovering the tax issues of the day.
Tax Factor FM 97.2
Turn the dial to the 1980s for a special FM broadcast of The Tax Factor.
Styled on London’s famous talk radio station The Capital Gains Breakfast Show takes you through one of the most transformative decades for tax policy.
With bold reforms, headline-grabbing Budgets, and the economic legacy of the Thatcher years, we bring the eighties tax landscape to life – complete with the feel of local radio news and updates.
Our Values
Collaborative
We are stronger together. We share knowledge, ask for help and empower each other to achieve more collectively
Authentic
We constantly ask ourselves what is the right thing to do for our people, our clients and our business, acting with integrity at all times
Respectful
Dynamic
We adapt quickly to change, finding smart ways to deliver the best results and remain one step ahead
Our Purpose
Our purpose is our driving force – to improve the lives of our colleagues, our clients and our communities in a sustainable way.
Our purpose is reflected in our social commitment where we extend our core value of collaboration to encompass how we interact with the our clients and our colleagues, and our local communities and the planet. We genuinely care about helping to build a better future and take action to make a difference, managing our business in a responsible and sustainable way.
Our corporate social responsibility approach is based on five core key pillars:
Our people
Our diversity and inclusion programme aims to recruit the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds, making all our people feel valued and create a sense they belong.
We give every Blick Rothenberg team member a voice and encourage them to be themselves at work. We take our employee wellbeing and development very seriously and invest in helping our people thrive.
Our clients
We work tirelessly to build trusted client relationships and deliver the very best service to help our clients achieve their ambitions.
We continually measure and improve our client experience approach.
Our community
We encourage our people to volunteer in both our mentoring programmes and our reading and writing schemes, as well as supporting charities close to our office.
Our environment
We take our role in the global fight against climate change very seriously, with established initiatives to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Our local office network helps us reduce global travel emissions.
We invest in new digital technologies and our client portal CoZone helps to automate many of our accounting practices, in turn, saving paper and energy.
Our suppliers
We commit to making all our suppliers feel they are part of our Blick Rothenberg community through ethical procurement strategies.
We treat our suppliers fairly and build great relationships with them, working together to drive the best possible value for our clients.