Firm mergers announced across England and Wales

The spring consolidation of the legal market has picked up pace again this week, with mergers and acquisitions announced across the country.

The MAPD Group today took its network of firms to six with the acquisitions of Cumbria firm Thomson Hayton Winkley and Greater Manchester practice Bromleys.

Both firms will keep their brands and identities and will join with Bermans, Jackson Lees, Broudie Jackson Canter and Myers & Co, which operate under the same MAPD umbrella.

MAPD said the new additions meet the model of ‘successful practices looking for enhanced operational and financial firepower to propel their business forward’.

Thomas Hayton Winkley and its sister brand the Rural Law Practice operate from six offices in and around the Lake District, with 60 staff led by Simon Theobald and John Cooke.

Bromleys, led by managing director and partner Paul Westwell, has a similar headcount and has been based in Ashton-under-Lyne for more than 180 years. It has the largest childcare team in Greater Manchester and specialises in Court of Protection work.

MAPD co-founder Joanna Kingston-Davies said: ‘It was immediately obvious when meeting Simon and John at Thomson Hayton Winkley and Paul at Bromleys that they had many of the credentials we look for in a law firm, namely: a loyal and diverse client base, strong roots in their local community and a keen commitment to their people.’

The MAPD Group, which is backed by Shard Credit Partners, now has an annual turnover of £30m and talks are ongoing with other firms. 

Meanwhile, national firm Dutton Gregory has continued its expansion through a merger with full-service Surrey firm Mackrell Turner Garrett (pictured top of article).

Dutton Gregory employs around 130 staff across Hampshire, Dorset and Liverpool and had been looking for merger opportunities.

Andrew Tilley, managing partner of Dutton Gregory said: ‘The legal market is changing rapidly, and our strategy for growth will give us the resilience to continue delivering the highest standards of service to both our existing and widening client base.

‘In order to maintain momentum, merger or acquisition has to be part of that strategy, so we are now very excited about the prospect of further developing our merged businesses in Surrey and beyond.’

In the southwest, Redkite Solicitors has acquired Gloucestershire firm Davey Law to create a business with 16 offices and 242 staff, jointly turning over around £16m a year.

Davey Son & Jones opened in Cirencester in 1946 and has been led in its current form by directors Peter Davies, Christopher Mills, Michael Brady and Stephen Harris since its incorporation in 2011. Harris will join Redkite as a partner, with the others taking on consultant roles.

Redkite has its headquarters in Carmarthen and has a wide network of offices across south Wales. Its chief executive Neil Walker said: ‘Part of our growth strategy is to expand our footprint in England, alongside our on-going growth across Wales. As a law firm rooted in the local communities it serves, it fits perfectly with our strategy of providing the best quality legal advice on the high street.’

Cumbria firm Arnold Greenwood Solicitors has expanded to incorporate the private client practice of Shirley M Evans, based in Grange-over-Sands, with Evans continuing to practise but able to offer a wider range of services to clients.

And in Manchester, Slater Heelis has acquired insolvency specialist N J Goodman & Co for an undisclosed sum. All four staff from N J Goodman & Co (pictured below) have joined Slater Heelis and will be based at their new headquarters at Crossgate House in Sale.

Chris Bishop, managing partner at Slater Heelis, said: ‘This year marks a momentous milestone for Slater Heelis and we are pleased the acquisition of N J Goodman & Co has completed during our 250^th anniversary year in what feels like the final piece of the jigsaw for us.'