Contraction in the personal injury market has continued with the announcement of two new takeovers.

North-west firm Antony Hodari has completed the purchase of litigation specialist Tandem Law through its AVH Legal trading arm.

The acquisition was agreed with Tandem Law’s administrators Leonard Curtis. Under the deal, all 45 staff and management will be retained.

Tandem had grown quickly since it was established in 2011, with offices in Preston and Manchester, and now has around 18,000 live cases including claims against the UK government by Kenyan former Mau Mau activists and professional negligence cases involving right-to-buy mortgages.

The deal follows the recent pre-pack acquisition of Preston firm Ashton Fox, which had a workload of around 8,000 predominantly mortgage mis-selling and right-to-buy cases. Last year Antony Hodari bought Liverpool personal injury firm Paul Rooney.

Meanwhile, Manchester based Slater Heelis has concluded the acquisition of Tarran & Co, a niche claimant personal injury firm based in the same city.

The Tarran & Co team of six includes partners Simon Adamson and Stephen Farnworth who will join Slater Heelis as fixed share members. Established in 1992, Tarran & Co specialises in all aspects of personal injury work and civil litigation.