Gaudern: Building powerful, nationwide force
Two fast-growing private equity-backed law firms in the North-West have unveiled acquisitions to boost their Court of Protection and personal injury practices respectively.
Fletchers has bought two firms to create a dedicated Court of Protection and private client division: EMG Solicitors and Kent-based JE Bennett Law.
Fletchers’ 30-strong Court of Protection team will also transfer into EMG, which will be the division’s brand, bringing together more than 200 specialists across a national network of offices.
EMG, headquartered in Durham, also has offices in Darlington, Newcastle, Penrith, Manchester and, since 2024, Reading. As well as Court of Protection, it offers family law, dispute resolution, conveyancing and private client services. It has around 180 staff in total.
EMG’s last published annual accounts, for the year to 31 January 2025, show turnover jumping 35% to £11.3m and profit before tax up 46% to £2.7m.
JE Bennett, which has two offices in Tunbridge Wells, specialises in Court of Protection and private client services. It has 43 staff.
EMG co-founder and chief executive Emma Gaudern will lead the business and join Fletchers’ management board.
JE Bennett Law founder and managing partner Jane Bennett will join the leadership team of the expanded EMG business, alongside Jemma Morland – co-founder and director of Court of Protection at EMG – and Kate Edwards, director of Court of Protection at Fletchers.
Fletchers Group chief executive Peter Haden said: “EMG and JE Bennett Law are two highly impressive, respected firms with deep expertise in Court of Protection and private client work.
“Bringing these teams together creates a specialist practice with real depth across the full spectrum of Court of Protection services, ranging from complex financial management and deputyships to high-value estates and trusts.
“It will also provide a full-service health and welfare offering, supporting clients on some of the most complex health and care decisions, education law matters and continuing healthcare challenges.”
Mr Haden said the deals reflected the group’s strategy of “scaling up and building expertise across the different areas of civil justice – expanding from our roots in serious injury and clinical negligence and into complementary areas of law”.
Ms Gaudern said she expected the new business to be “a powerful, nationwide force in Court of Protection and private client services”, adding that she hoped to grow it both organically and through further acquisitions.
EMG is referred work by other law firms and she stressed that the expanded EMG business would operate “independently of Fletchers Solicitors with clear professional boundaries; appropriate information safeguards will remain in place, ensuring confidentiality and protecting sensitive commercial information”.
She went on: “We will also ensure that any Court of Protection clients introduced to EMG by external firms will not be represented by or referred to Fletchers under any circumstances.”
We reported in February [1] that Sun Capital, Fletchers’ private equity backer since 2021, had committed to another four or five years, while last November, Fletchers moved outside of injury work for the first time by acquiring leading family law firm Rayden Solicitors [2].
Meanwhile, Express Solicitors has acquired Cheshire-based personal injury and clinical negligence firm Aegis Legal, adding 30 staff to its existing 950. Aegis managing directors Aidan Wilcox and Janet Keating are retiring.
Express sold a majority stake [3] to Ufenau Capital Partners last November, with chief executive James Maxey saying it would provide “greater firepower” for acquisitions.
Mr Maxey said today: “This acquisition reflects our commitment to investing in high‑quality legal services and expanding our ability to support injured people across the country.”
Express has also appointed road traffic accident partner Adele Greenough to the new role of integration partner to help integrate firms as Express acquires them.
Mr Maxey said: “We’ll soon be announcing our next deal and we’re working on others, our strategy is very firmly focused on acquisition-based expansion, supported by the investment we secured from Ufenau Capital Partners.”
In other M&A news, East Sussex firm Stephen Rimmer has acquired Bexhill-on-Sea practice Donaldson Dunstall. The latter’s two partners have joined as consultants, with 14 other staff – specialising in conveyancing and private client work – moving over.
The acquisition takes Stephen Rimmer to more than 130 people across four offices along the South Coast.
Donaldson Dunstall partner Patrick Donaldson said the deal “allows us to preserve the personal service our clients value, while giving them access to a broader range of specialist expertise”.
Newcastle-based Sintons has acquired Cumbria Employment Solicitors, led by Michael Bauer, but it will continue to operate under its own name.
Sintons managing partner Christopher Welch said: “[This deal] is part of our strategic drive to expand into different geographic regions by partnering with people who have a proven track record whilst sharing our values of client excellence.
“This latest move, when coupled with our continued growth in the Yorkshire region means that we are bigger, stronger, and more capable than ever.”
Mr Bauer commented: “Joining forces with Sintons was the natural next step for us. To continue to compete at the highest level, you need the resources and backing of a larger firm.”
Finally, intellectual property law firm Brandsmiths has acquired the UK business of Sipara, moving it into the top 10 UK firms for trade mark filings at the UK Intellectual Property Office. The 11 new staff take Brandsmiths’ headcount to 62.
Sipara will continue operating under its established name and leadership for the immediate future.
Brandsmiths stressed that it has no plans to expand into the EU and would continue to use its existing relationships with local counsel for European matters.
Adam Morallee, founder and chief executive of Brandsmiths, said: “Brandsmiths is becoming the UK’s number one IP law firm, built for brands.
“Acquiring Sipara gives our trade mark prosecution service real scale in the UK, accelerating that journey. [Founders Rebecca Kaye and Robert Furneaux] have built a practice known for clarity, commercial judgement and technical excellence. Together, we’re shaping a stronger presence in the UK market with the scale to match it.”