Acquira - Blogs #Selling a Solicitors PracticeAcquira - Blogs #Selling a Solicitors Practicehttps://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/tag/selling-a-solicitors-practiceMon, 27 Apr 2026 03:16:36 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[The Direction of Travel for Law Firm M&A in 2026 — and It’s Not La-La Land]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/the-direction-of-travel-for-law-firm-m-a-in-2026-—-and-it-s-not-la-la-land1I was pleased to be quoted this month in “20 things for solicitors to look out for in 2026” by the Law Society Gazette.]]>

I was pleased to be quoted this month in “20 things for solicitors to look out for in 2026” by the Law Society Gazette.


Disruption, private equity and transformational change always sound more exciting. They make good headlines and attract attention. But the reality of the law firm M&A market as we head into 2026 is far more grounded.


As I noted in the Gazette, of the 160+ law firm transactions completed last year, only around 14 involved private equity. That alone underlines how limited its overall penetration remains.


This is not to say that external capital will disappear from the market. We are likely to see more transactions involving larger firms and minority — often undisclosed — stakes from private equity or other investors. But these will continue to be the exception, not the rule.


The real engine of the market remains firms below £5m in revenue. They continue to attract strong buyer interest and account for a significant proportion of completed deals. This is where activity is sustained, practical and highly transactional.


Talk of large, PE-backed or highly disruptive transactions may dominate commentary. For most law firms, however, it remains largely la-la land.


Forgive me for saying it, but the so-called “boring” deals — pragmatic mergers and acquisitions driven by succession planning, cultural alignment and long-term stability — are where the real action continues to be.


Perhaps I am becoming boring too. But experience in this market suggests that the deals which actually complete, create value and endure are rarely the ones making the loudest noise.


For 2026, steady, disciplined M&A — not disruption — remains the defining theme.


Data referenced fromMomentum: The Year the Legal Market Re-Engineered Itself, our subscription-only deal data and insight service, available from 31 January.

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]]>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:04:52 +0000<![CDATA[Mid-Market Law Firms: Inflection Point or Mexican Stand-Off?]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/Mid-Market-Law-Firms-Inflection-Point-or-Mexican-Stand-Off Good to be quoted in this week’s Law Society Gazette on the wave of consolidation and M&A activity — and, more importantly, why it’s happening. A ]]>

Good to be quoted in this week’s Law Society Gazette on the wave of consolidation and M&A activity — and, more importantly, why it’s happening.

Across what The Lawyer calls “the independents” — firms in the UK Top 100–200 — the appetite for growth is clear: broader client bases, bigger revenues, new practice areas, even international reach.

But we’re at a crossroads. Many firms face a stark choice:
✅ Move decisively — or
❌ Wait and risk being left behind.

Key pressures driving this moment:
  • Flattening revenue growth
  • Shrinking margins
  • Rising client demands for scale and efficiency
  • Fierce competition for top talent
  • Disruption from PE-backed firms and ALSPs

This is no longer business as usual. Standing still is no longer neutral — it’s strategic risk.

That’s why M&A is rising. For many, it’s the clearest route to stay competitive. But each path comes with trade-offs:

🧩 Merge to scale
⚠️ Upside: market presence; risk: cultural clashes

🧩 Acquire to grow
⚠️ Upside: capability gain; risk: overpay or misfit

🧩 Be acquired
⚠️ Upside: access to capital and leadership; risk: identity dilution

🧩 Form alliances
⚠️ Upside: strategic reach; risk: limited impact

🧩 Stay static, prepare quietly
⚠️ Upside: strength on your own terms; risk: falling behind

As the Gazette puts it:
“There’s a wave of consolidation underway, but not every firm will make it through. The ones that do will move with purpose, discipline, and a clear plan.”

In this crowded house, not everyone gets to stay at the table.

📎 See this week’s Gazette article attached below on page 12.

👉 The real question:
Are we at an inflection point — or stuck in a Mexican stand-off while time and market share slip away?

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]]>Tue, 20 May 2025 21:41:00 +0000<![CDATA[The M&A Playbook for Regional Law Firms: Lawfront Buys Slater Heelis]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/The-M-and-A-Playbook-for-Regional-Law-FirmsAnother smart move by Lawfront, as Slater Heelis is a first-class regional firm.]]>

The M&A Playbook for Regional Law Firms: Lawfront Buys Slater Heelis

Another smart move by Lawfront, as Slater Heelis is a first-class regional firm.

I remember meeting their managing partner, Chris Bishop, in Manchester a couple years ago—a decent man who totally gets culture in law firms.

In our recent survey on law firm M&A and Q4 Newsletter, we covered what they were doing in the market with other PE-backed firms.

I was unusually bold in saying, “My prediction is that we will see the major players in private equity continuing to use this playbook of making a law firm more valuable by buying platform firms with a clear “buy to build” strategy.”.

I got it right for a change, but being candid was an easy one to call.

Overall, we can see that consolidation in the legal sector is becoming a coherent and properly funded strategy, and as private equity steps up its investment, it is bound to gather more momentum, particularly around mid-sized law firms.

I am sure there will be further acquisitions by Lawfront, but more importantly, by other strategic players in this sector.

The obvious question is: What is their end game?

Definitely for another post!

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]]>Thu, 02 May 2024 15:33:56 +0000<![CDATA[Powering Up a Law Firm-The Barbarians at the Gate?]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/powering-up-a-law-firm-the-barbarians-at-the-gatePowering Up a Law Firm-The Barbarians at the Gate? The Law Society Gazette covered yesterday the impressive published accounts from national law firm K ]]>

Powering Up a Law Firm-The Barbarians at the Gate?

The Law Society Gazette covered yesterday the impressive published accounts from national law firm Keoghs LLP.
£110 million in revenue with a gross margin of 25.5%.

Just to be clear: Keoghs is owned by the global insurance and professional services brand, the Davies Group, which is in turn owned by BC Partners, a £140 billion PE house!

The BC chair and dealmaking guru Nikos Stathopoulos once said in an interview with the FT:“Investing is very much about conviction,” … “To get to that conviction you must have something more than your peers […] so that you’re able to pay more. It’s not just based on the business plan.”

Perhaps that’s why Keoghs now have access to an enormous war chest for M&A in the legal sector, which will allow them to be powered up even further. With another PE house, Inflexion, buying DWF, we can see the future direction of travel.

Not quite the barbarians at the gate, but definitely a firm to watch out for.

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]]>Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:55:01 +0000<![CDATA[On Your Marks! : Law Firm M&A in 2024]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/On-Your-Marks-Law-Firm-MA-in-2024It’s a real pleasure to present our annual M&A review for the legal sector. In a dynamic year of challenges and opportunities, this comprehensive r ]]>

It’s a real pleasure to present our annual M&A review for the legal sector.
In a dynamic year of challenges and opportunities, this comprehensive review delves into the key mergers and acquisitions that have shaped the legal landscape.
For those who aren’t on our mailing list, see the link below to download the report.

📈Trends That Defined 2023: A Glimpse Back
Reflecting on the past year, we witnessed unprecedented shifts in the legal sector.

💼 Predictions for 2024: Navigating the Future
What lies ahead for the legal sector in 2024?
Our experts gaze into the crystal ball to anticipate upcoming trends, potential disruptors, and game-changing mergers. Whether it's the rise of legal funding groups and PE, or innovative partnerships, our predictions aim to guide industry players through the evolving landscape.

🔗 Join the Conversation
Let's turn this annual review into a conversation!
Share your thoughts, experiences, and predictions in the comments section. What trends do you find most intriguing, and how do you envision the future of the legal sector?

📢 Stay Tuned
This is just the beginning! In the coming weeks, we'll be hosting webinars and panel discussions featuring industry leaders to further delve into the insights uncovered in our annual M&A review.
Don't miss the chance to engage with thought leaders and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping the legal sector.

Subscribe and Download the Report
]]>Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:09:00 +0000<![CDATA[Private Equity Strikes Again in the Legal Sector]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/Private-Equity-Strikes-Again-in-the-Legal-SectorNo one in the corporate legal world had until recently heard of Inflexion Private Equity Partners. This changed dramatically when they announced in July the purchase of the top 50 law firm, DWF]]>

Private Equity Strikes Again in the Legal Sector

No one in the corporate legal world had until recently heard of Inflexion Private Equity Partners. This changed dramatically when they announced in July the purchase of the top 50 law firm, DWF.

This London-headquartered private equity house was set up over 20 years ago by Simon Turner and John Hartz, described by insiders as the “doyens of private equity”.
The company has approximately £8bn in funds under management, and its current portfolio in the legal sector includes Chambers Directory, National Accident Helpline, a claims management company in the personal injury sector, and O’Neil Patient, a top 100 conveyancing law firm.

Well, they have now announced a very astute investment in an online platform created by city giant Allen & Overy.

The legal and compliance data subscription platform Aosphere will become a standalone entity, with A&O retaining a significant minority stake in the business it created in 2002 as Derivative Services and rebranded in 2015.

Alongside the “strategic investment” by private equity firm Inflexion is backing from Endicott Capital, a US-based investor specialising in the information services industry.

Another private equity-backed business, Lawfront, is also in the news again for another acquisition. This time is number six, namely acquiring Leicester-based Patterson Commercial Law, which has 10 fee-earners. Another strategic move as this strengthens by way of a tuck in the acquisition of the large East Midlands firm, Nelsons.

Behind Lawfront, is Blixt, a pan-European private equity firm headquartered in London that claims to have access to more than £200 million in long-term institutional investor funding.

Putting aside the usual lawyer disdain for private equity in this sector, the reality is that likes of Inflexion and Lawfront would not be investing unless they could see a return. Interestingly, in 2019, the Financial Times reported that Inflexion was producing returns as much as three times the amount invested.

It is no surprise that these firms are expanding rapidly in the legal sector. More, I’m sure, will follow!
https://zurl.co/GtlB

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]]>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 11:15:31 +0000<![CDATA[Fletchers continues growth by buying firms PI base]]>https://www.acquiraps.co.uk/blogs/post/funding-m-a-deals-in-the-legal-sector-has-just-got-a-lot-easier1Leeds PI Firm Sold to the Fletchers Group.]]>

Leeds PI Firm Sold to the Fletchers Group.

I am delighted to finally see the sale taking place of this superb firm, where we have helped the sole EP successfully exit this sector.

It was great working with the team at Fletchers, and having met their CEO, Peter Haden, I just know their staff will not only be secure but will thrive!

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