In a significant development in the legal services sector, a barrister-led legal compliance business has been acquired by a private equity firm, leading to a strategic merger with a recruitment consultancy.
The legal compliance firm, known as Briefed, specialises in training, compliance, and technology services, and has now merged with DMJ Recruitment. This move follows Briefed’s acquisition by Omni Partners, a private equity firm known for investing in burgeoning and profitable businesses seeking their initial external capital.
Orlagh Kelly, once a practising barrister for over a decade and the founder of Briefed, will serve as the chief executive of the newly formed entity. She described the merger as creating a ‘unique combination’ of services providing end-to-end career support for professionals. The ability to find and place talent across the legal, corporate governance, and compliance sectors, while supporting them throughout their careers, is an offering unmatched in the current market.
Omni Partners, which had previously purchased DMJ Recruitment two years prior, facilitated this merger. This strategic alliance enhances Omni’s capability to serve the legal and corporate governance sectors, promising an innovative talent management approach that steers professionals at various career junctures towards growth and development.
Briefed’s foundation in 2012 by Kelly marked its evolution into a comprehensive digital training platform. The organisation, before its merger with DMJ, employed a team of ten specialised in delivering online support to law firms across the United Kingdom. The firm has maintained a significant presence in Belfast, supported by a substantial investment from Invest Northern Ireland aimed at advancing its digital services and job creation.
The merger brings along a staff of 20 recruitment consultants from DMJ Recruitment, based in the City of London, who specialise in private practice and in-house roles as well as corporate governance. The combined firm is actively recruiting for additional roles while planning a formal launch next January. The branding and exact name of the new entity are in the process of being finalised.
Kelly emphasised the rarity of a barrister establishing a company that attracts such private equity interest, underscoring the entrepreneurial potential within the legal profession. This acquisition reflects the untapped potential barristers possess in traversing traditional boundaries and venturing into entrepreneurial domains.
In addition to its primary operations, Briefed has also achieved significant milestones in compliance. It recently secured the law-specific data protection certification, LOCS:23, approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office, making it a pioneer alongside eight other legal chambers working towards this certification.
This merger positions the new firm as a notable contender in the realm of legal and corporate governance support, promising a holistic experience for professionals.
