The Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) renewal deadline on 1 October has once again sparked a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among law firms across the United Kingdom.
Fletchers Group, under the ownership of Sun European Partners, has expanded by acquiring the personal injury division of the Leeds firm Emsleys. This move resulted in the transfer of all 28 staff members, including fee-earners and support staff, to Fletchers’ newly opened Leeds office. According to Peter Haden, the CEO of Fletchers Group, this acquisition aligns with their strategy of growth and enhancement of services, extending their regional reach and client base.
In the East Midlands, Nottingham’s Rotheras and Leicester’s Bray & Bray have merged to form Rothera Bray. This new entity combines strengths in private client and corporate/commercial work, positioning itself as one of the top 200 UK law firms by revenue. Christina Yardley, the CEO, highlighted the firm’s commitment to a people-focused approach and expanding geographic and expertise reach. Tim Gladdle, the Senior Partner, expressed optimism about enhanced client services regionally and nationally.
Meanwhile, in the South West, Kitsons and Boyce Hatton have merged to establish Kitson Boyce, with offices in Exeter, Plymouth, Totnes, and Torquay. Rhodri Davey, the Managing Partner of the new firm, emphasised the shared culture and complementary strengths that drove the merger, enabling a broader spectrum of services for clients.
In a strategic move, Irwin Mitchell has acquired Silk Family Law, boosting its expertise and presence in the North East of England. This follows a significant acquisition in Scotland, reinforcing Irwin Mitchell’s expansion strategy.
Weightmans has strengthened its cross-border travel claims practice by acquiring the Anglo-French firm Pierre Thomas Law. This acquisition enhances Weightmans’ capabilities in international personal injury and accident claim defence, now operating from their London office.
Additionally, Spencer West has embarked on its first acquisition, integrating private wealth boutique Hieron and Selig & Partners into its platform. This expansion is part of Spencer West’s strategy to move beyond organic partner and team recruitment, illustrated by the opening of new offices in Birmingham and Mayfair.
In Manchester, Prosperity Law’s acquisition of Carrick Read enhances its insolvency and debt recovery capabilities. This strategic move is seen as an opportunity to widen service offerings and extend geographic reach, with existing offices in Liverpool and London.
The growth trend continues with Minster Law’s expansion into Scotland, establishing a new operation in Glasgow led by Marina Harper. Additionally, the MEUM Group has launched in London, presenting an innovative model for delivering professional services.
HF’s partnership with Abacai, incorporating 24 members from the latter’s claims team, exemplifies the focus on maximising expertise and client benefits.
In summary, the PII renewal deadline has catalysed a significant wave of M&A activity across the UK legal sector, with firms leveraging strategic acquisitions and mergers to enhance their service offerings, expand their geographic reach, and strengthen their market positions.
