Black: Valuable addition to the group
Private equity-backed Orwins is making good on its growth plans by adding Newcastle law firm Clarke Mairs to the group.
It follows Orwins’ acquisition in May [1] of Reading firm Clarkslegal, adding to its existing offices in Manchester and London.
Backed by Aliter Capital, Orwins – which was until May known as BBS Law – now has almost 200 staff and combined revenues of £28m.
As we revealed in April [2], its plan is to hit a turnover of at least £50m in the next two years as it builds across the country.
The Orwins model contrasts with some others in the market by expressly not looking to cut costs and overheads in the firms it acquires, which can retain their own brands.
Clarke Mairs specialises in litigation, insolvency, commercial property, company and commercial law, and private client. It has 10 partners – who will become shareholders in Orwins – and 38 other staff.
Orwins chief executive Dov Black said: “From the outset, it was clear that Clarke Mairs has deservedly earned a reputation for delivering the highest-quality legal solutions across the North-East and nationally.
“With their strong local roots and a wide range of specialist skills, they represent a valuable addition to the Orwins group.”
In his interview in April, Mr Black said Orwins’ “sweet spot” was firms with a turnover of £3-10m and an EBITDA of around £1.5-2m.
He said the challenge was not so much identifying law firms to buy but integrating them, and “that is where I think we stand out”.
Meanwhile, insurance and commercial firm HF – which has minority investment from CBPE Capital – has done its third deal of the year in expanding in Dublin with the acquisition of Ennis & Associates Solicitors, Matrix Claims Services and Cardinal Claims Services.
The three sister firms joining HF Ireland have around 60 employees and provide an end-to-end claims management and defence litigation offering to the Irish insurance sector.
Ronan McCann, CEO and managing partner of HF, said: “This investment brings fantastic opportunities for our business and our people as we bring together valuable skills and experience which will provide the best possible service for all our clients.”
In May, HF acquired national healthcare firm Hempsons [3], and in February bought [4] the alternative business structure owned by global insurance services firm Crawford & Company.
Manchester personal injury giant Express Solicitors – owned by private equity house Ufenau Capital Partners – has made its third acquisition of the year too: small Bury-based firm Recovery Assist.
Partner Margaret Crausby – who moved with one other lawyer – has joined Express Solicitors in a newly created leadership role focused on managing, retaining and developing the new workstreams and brands brought into the business through recent acquisitions.
This will include expanding the Sorrymate brand – bought from St Helens firm Smooth Law [5] in May – a month after Express acquired Aegis Legal [6], a Cheshire-based personal injury and clinical negligence firm.
Ms Crausby will also be looking to grow the specialist lines of Liverpool firm HNK Solicitors – acquired in April 2025 [7] – including data breach, actions against the police and Criminal Injury Compensation Act claims.
She said: “Express Solicitors has the ambition, investment and expertise to take these specialist brands to the next level.”
James Maxey, Express Solicitors CEO, said: “This acquisition is another important milestone in our growth journey. Margaret brings deep expertise in specialist claim types and brand development, and her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand our portfolio.”
AGRD Partners, a private equity-backed group of eight Swedish law firms, now has a ninth, Malmö-based business law firm Moll Wendén. In May, it added [5] leading Icelandic corporate law firm BBA//Fjeldco – which also has a London office – to its ranks.
We reported in March [8] that AGRD was looking to expand across the Nordic region and had also had interest from UK practices.
In other M&A news, Bendles is to acquire fellow Cumbrian firm Atkinson Ritson on 1 September. Atkinson Ritson, which has three directors and 20 other staff in Carlisle and Wigton, specialises in agriculture, family law, commercial and residential property and private client work.
It is Bendles’ second deal in quick succession, following its merger with Gaynham King & Mellor [9] in April. It will have around 100 staff as a result.
John Stevenson, managing partner at Bendles, said: “Atkinson Ritson is a well-respected and established firm with a similar outlook to ourselves. We now have increased strength in depth across a larger geographical footprint which we believe is beneficial to our clients.
“This is an exciting time for Bendles and we see continued growth for the firm over the coming months and years.”
National firm Simpson Millar acquired the personal injury and clinical negligence portfolio of Forster Dean as part of its strategy to scale its core offering. Twelve staff have joined the Liverpool and Manchester offices.
Forster Dean will continue to operate private client services from its Cheshire and Merseyside offices.
Simpson Millar CEO Greg Cox said: “This transaction reflects our continued investment in both people and technology. We remain focused on sustainable growth and will continue to explore opportunities that align with our culture, strengthen our capabilities, and enhance the service we provide to clients.”
Platform law firm Legal Studio has acquired specialist transport firm TKTL Solicitors, which it said would retain “its name, specialist identity, existing leadership and direct client relationships”.
“The arrangement gives TKTL the infrastructure and backing of a larger law firm without folding the specialist practice into the Legal Studio brand,” it said in a statement.
TKTL has three people – directors Tim Knight and Andrew Large and a member of support staff – while Legal Studio has 11 employed staff (including directors) and 40 legal consultants.
The deal follows Legal Studio’s acquisition of GC Business Lawyers [10] in 2024 and then Crewe Property Law.
Ian McCann, CEO of Legal Studio, said: “The acquisition strengthens our London presence and brings genuine transport law expertise into Legal Studio, but the important point is that TKTL remains recognisably TKTL.”
Redkite Solicitors, which has 19 offices across Wales and the South-West, has acquired Alan Simons & Co in Penarth. It said the move “strengthens Redkite’s presence in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan”.
Neil Walker, CEO at Redkite, which has around 300 staff, said: “This is an important step in our continued growth, strengthening our presence in communities we are proud to serve.
“What matters most is that clients in Penarth will continue to see the same trusted people and the same personalised service, now supported by the strength and breadth of a larger firm.”