Law firm mergers and acquisitions service

Armstrong Watson offer a proactive Mergers and Aquistions service specifically for the Legal Sector. Every two months we prepare and circulate a list of firms looking to acquire others, to merge or to be sold. We identify firms that match the criteria set out by those we know are seeking such amalgamations.

Armstrong Watson will manage the process:

We value firms and negotiate terms.
We carry out due diligence. We provide law firms with a list of areas that we commonly review and agree with them which areas would be most beneficial to include within our due diligence scope. We then prepare our report to management, designed to highlight potential risks of the merger.
We undertake financial modelling to highlight potential synergies, cost savings and most importantly how the profit share and capital accounts might look.
We advise on any tax implications of the proposed merger and how to minimise any tax exposure.
We provide a detailed merger checklist that identifies all of the tasks that commonly need to be completed to enact a merger, and also the risks and other factors that firms should be aware of. The checklist allows us to allocate merger tasks, set deadlines for their completion and ensure that they are completed as planned.

View the latest Mergers and Acquisitions Opportunities

Contact our Legal Sector Partner, Andy Poole, on 07828 857830 or andy.poole@armstrongwatson.co.uk to discuss how we can help you.

What is it?

A proactive mergers and acquisitions service

Who is it for?

All law firms of all sizes in all locations

What are the benefits for your firm?

You will be able to achieve your strategic objectives
You will achieve the right result at the right value
You will decrease your risk
You will achieve compliance and confidentiality

What do I have to do?

Dependant on individual circumstances

What are the deliverables?

Discovery meeting. Delivery of selected services as set out above. Meetings with clients and their merging party.

What is the cost?

Bespoke fee options agreed at the outset.

How long will it take?

Dependant on individual circumstances

Recent Deals

Acquisition overview

Review of the benefits and risks and potential valuation of two potential acquisitions for a medium sized law firm, including discussion with the chief executive on how to proceed.

June 2021

Disposal

Full disposal mandate for a 3 partner practice, including market research, broking with potential acquirers, provision of information, obtaining indicative offers, negotiating heads of terms through to tax structuring and legal completion.

June 2021

Financial due diligence/legal completion

FDD report for a private equity house on their acquisition of a £7m practice. SPA review, deal structure advice, tax warranties review. Completion accounts review.

June 2021

Preparing for disposal

Assessing a sole practitioner firm re their attractiveness for an acquirer, including valuation thoughts and what may be done to make the practice more attractive and valuable.

June 2021

Disposal

Full disposal mandate for a 2 partner practice, including market research, broking with potential acquirers, provision of information, obtaining indicative offers, negotiating heads of terms through to tax structuring and legal completion.

May 2021

Merger Management

Managing the merger process for two law firms on a joint instruction, including exchanging information, suggesting deal structures and how the two firms can join operationally, tax impacts for both and using our merger checklist to ensure a smooth process.

May 2021

Disposal

Full disposal mandate for a 6 partner practice, including market research, broking with potential acquirers, provision of information, obtaining indicative offers, negotiating heads of terms through to tax structuring and legal completion.

May 2021

Acquisition overview

Review of the benefits and risks and potential valuation of a potential acquisition for a large law firm, including provision of report and discussion with the board on how to proceed.

May 2021

Disposal

Full disposal mandate for a sole practitioner, including market research, broking with potential acquirers, provision of information, obtaining indicative offers, negotiating heads of terms through to tax structuring and legal completion.

May 2021

Disposal

April 2021

Disposal

March 2021

Disposal

Disposal offer overview for a 2 partner firm, negotiating heads of terms, facilitating transaction, APA review, tax advice and warranties review.

January 2021

Valuation

Formal valuation report for a 3 partner practice looking for a disposal.

January 2021

Merger/Due diligence

Negotiating and due diligence for a large law firm merging into another large law firm to create a 500+ person firm.

December 2020

Valuation

Formal valuation report for a sole practitioner looking to bring in additional owners.

November 2020

Valuation

Formal valuation report for a 2 partner practice looking for a disposal.

October 2020

Valuation

Formal valuation report for a 2 partner practice looking for a disposal.

September 2020

Disposal search

Research of market for likely acquirers, contact with acquirers, preparation of mini Information Memorandum.

August 2020

Disposal

Completing the disposal of a £7m fee income practice into a larger organisation.

June 2020

Disposal

Advising, valuing, negotiating on the successful disposal of a £1m niche firm into a larger organisation. Including tax advice, deal advice, structure advice, legal document review and completion accounts.

May 2020

De-merger

Advising and negotiating on the potential de-merger of a 6 partner practice into 2 separate entities. Including respective valuations and mechanics.

April 2020

Managing a Merger

Introducing two law firms to each other then jointly engaged to manage a merger process, including use of our merger checklist and regulatory requirements

January 2020

Disposal Search

Research, advice and connecting a very profitable two equity partner firm with potential acquirers for a goodwill disposal. Including information provision. Engaged to complete deal with the preferred party

January 2020

Acquisition Search

Research, advice and connecting a larger law firm with firms that may be a suitable match for merger / acquisition

December 2019

Disposal Search

Research, advice and connecting a two partner firm to potential merger partners

October 2019

Disposal

Search, contact, negotiations, deal structure through to completion of a disposal of a legal aid firm to a large legal aid specialist

September 2019

PI Caseload Disposal

Introduction and arranging a deal for a large full service firm to dispose of their PI caseload and department

November 2019

PI Caseload Acquisition

Introduction and arranging a deal for a national law firm to acquire part of the PI caseload of a smaller niche firm

August 2019

Disposal

Disposal negotiations for a three partner firm to a private equity backed consolidator, including EBITDA calculations for a multiple based approach

July 2019

Valuation then Disposal Search

Valuation report then disposal search for a profitable niche law firm in Scotland

June 2019

Disposal

Disposal search, contacting, arranging, provision of information, negotiating and completing a disposal with goodwill of a large law firm to a national outfit

May 2019

Disposal Search/Process

Identification of and contact with potential acquirers of a seven partner firm, including data room, provision of information and deal negotiation

April 2019

Valuation for Acquisition

Valuation of a sole practitioner on behalf of a potential acquirer

March 2019

Merger

Background deal advice for a successful three partner firm in their merger discussions with a large regional player

January 2019

Valuation

Detailed valuation reports for a medium sized law, estate agency and financial advisory business

November 2018

Disposal/Investment

Disposal / investment search for a large niche volume specialist

August 2018

Information Memorandum

Preparation of a detailed information memorandum for a large law firm in connection with their potential disposal to a larger law firm

July 2018

Acquisition Search

Acquisition search for a private equity backed national law firm consolidator

May 2018

Deal Structuring

Advised a three partner niche law firm on their merger with a large international firm

April 2018

What our clients say

Having faced a number of approaches from law firms and companies over the years to acquire Pryers, it was important for us to wait patiently for the right opportunity with the right company to forge ahead with. Pure Legal undoubtedly presents that opportunity and I am delighted to get this deal over the line and I look forward to working with Phil and his team. Thanks to our Accountant, Andy Poole and his team from Armstrong Watson, for their diligent work. We were genuinely impressed with their advice and representation.

Ian Pryer, Managing Partner, Pryers LLP