The private equity-backed rush to acquire regional firms continued today with two practices bolted onto the Lawfront group. Essex firm Giles Wilson becomes part of the East Anglia set-up under the Fisher Jones Greenwood banner, while Lancashire firm Houldsworth Solicitors will become part of Farleys.
The Lawfront model, funded by private equity fund Blixt, is to buy large firms which get to keep their own identities, then attach smaller firms to these regional centres. The latest additions bring Lawfront’s total number of acquisitions to 18 over five years.
All 35 staff at Giles Wilson and 27 staff at Houldsworth will be kept on and Lawfront stressed that existing clients of the firms will benefit from continuity of relationships alongside access to wider expertise and resources.
Peter Martin-Simon, chief executive of Lawfront, said: ‘Lawfront’s ethos is centred around championing firms that have strong growth potential, and providing them with the technology, capital and operational support they need to achieve this. In short, we provide regional leaders with national scale. Thanks to this, we have enjoyed significant growth over recent years, with further acquisitions within the group also on the horizon.’
Martin-Simon was appointed last month. He was previously chief executive of esure Group, where he led post-acquisition integration with Ageas Direct and Saga.
Lawfront Group revenue is now expected to exceed £175 million this year from the regional law firms: Farleys, Fisher Jones Greenwood, Nelsons, Slater Heelis, Brachers, Trethowans and Field Seymour Parkes.
During the summer, it emerged that Lawfront was suing five Slater Heelis partners in relation to the valuation of the firm when it was bought in 2024. The partners rejected allegations made against them and vowed to robustly defend the matter.
