Two self-styled 'new model' alternative business structures offering a platform and brand for consultant lawyers have announced a merger. Investor-backed nexa law said it had acquired the entire share capital of Peregrine Law, a London firm which claims to offer 'City quality legal services at lower prices'. 

Under the deal, Peregrine founders Nigel Clark and Ben Walmsley, as well as their 12 strong team of ex-City lawyers, join nexa. Clark has been appointed to the nexa board to support the firm’s plans to have over 100 consultant lawyers operating nationally by the end of this year.

Nexa, founded in 2016 by Eliot Hibbert and John Roberts, says it enables consultant lawyers set up and run their own practice.  

Hibbert said: 'We are delighted to have acquired Peregrine in a deal that supports our ambitious growth strategy and further strengthens our proposition in the critical London market.  As the UK legal sector continues to evolve, we strongly believe that our law firm model will overtake more traditional offerings in terms of giving individuals and business clients the legal services they need on a more agile, affordable basis.'

Nigel Clark, former chief executive of Peregrine, added: 'The nexa platform represents the best of the future of legal services and we are hugely excited to be joining nexa law. We’ve known and admired Eliot, John and their team for some time and we feel this a great fit and the best next step for both businesses.'