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Express Solicitors poised for further acquisitions after £10m funding boost

James Maxey and Steve Taylor [1]

Maxey (left) and Taylor: Express Solicitors “considering approaches” from other firms

Express Solicitors, the Manchester personal injury firm, is poised to make further acquisitions after securing £10m funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Managing partner James Maxey said the funding package would enable the firm to focus on the growth of the business “without having to compromise” on other areas.

“It is our intention to begin to look at more competitor acquisitions as an additional means of securing growth and the funding will support this.”

Mr Maxey said the firm had achieved continuous growth over the last 14 years, and since 2012, the number of cases on its books had risen from 2,355 to 6,833.

Express Solicitors bought Lavin Copitch Solicitors in April last year, following a £4m refinancing package from RBS, and a month after Express converted to an alternative business structure [2].

Gavin Roberts, associate partner at Express Solicitors, said “a number of firms” had approached them, to see if they were interested in acquiring their business or caseload.

“We are looking at them carefully to make sure they will be the right fit for Express,” Mr Roberts said.

He said there were no plans to sell the law firm. “We want to grow the business, not sell it.”

Express Solicitors now has 176 staff based at its offices near Manchester Airport. A spokesman added that, along with acquisitions, the new funding would be spent on marketing, including TV advertising and pay per click.

Steve Taylor, senior relationship manager at RBS, said: “The management team has a very clear set of objectives for the company and their success in recent years has shown just how dedicated they are to achieving these results.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the firm and to help them achieve their growth ambitions in the future.”