National firm Simpson Millar has announced its first law firm acquisition since it was taken over by a listed company.

The consumer firm became part of the Fairpoint Group plc last month and has already moved to acquire Bristol-based Foster & Partners.

Fosters, a family law practice, has nine lawyers operating from the city centre and will become part of the Simpson Millar brand.

The firm said it has ambitions to be the leading provider of family law services in Bristol and the south-west, and has promised further expansion.

Peter Watson, managing director of Simpson Millar LLP, said Fosters is an ‘excellent fit’ for its business.

‘We have developed a very positive reputation in the legal sector for the manner in which we have conducted our consolidation activities and in step with our stated strategy as part of Fairpoint Group PLC, we will be pursuing further strategic acquisitions in the near future.’

Paul Foster (pictured, right), a partner at Fosters, assured clients of the firm they will benefit from the new arrangement.

He said: ‘We have no doubt the nationwide reach, breadth of experience and resources that Simpson Millar LLP brings will benefit all our clients.’

Simpson Millar was acquired by Fairpoint last month in a deal worth £15m.

Headquartered in Leeds and with 10 regional offices, the firm was already seeking to expand before the involvement of Fairpoint, having bought education specialist MG Law, family practice McAra’s and the care homes division of Barnetts.

The Fairpoint deal was financed by a £20m banking facility with AIB Group designed to allow the financial advice group to expand into the legal sector.