Mergers a ticket to survival for law firms

What else might be driving the flurry of deals between firms?

Hello Rainmakers,

Proudly boasting its status as the UK’s second largest legal hub outside London, the Yorkshire market has seen a surge in deal activity recently - and we don’t mean transactions for clients.

The region’s legal eagles have been busy buying up rivals and merging to form legal powerhouses. With private equity firms increasingly investing in the region’s legal sector, Sheryl Moore looks at what’s driving this flurry of deals.

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When Wilkin Chapman announced its merger with Yorkshire law firm Rollits, the move was described as ‘market and client driven’. The legal world is changing fast. Once defined by tradition, slow-moving hierarchies and regional loyalties, mid-sized firms are now facing a stark reality: scale matters. Mergers for some aren’t just an option - they’re the ticket to survival.

By joining forces, firms can scale operations, broaden expertise, invest in cutting-edge technology and compete effectively in a market where speed, innovation, and efficiency increasingly determine success.

Size brings resilience. With corporates slashing budgets and clients scrutinising every invoice, bigger firms can spread costs across a larger revenue base. Competition is fierce. On one side, sprawling national and international players dominate; on the other nimble digital boutiques can undercut on price and move at lightning speed.

Clients are also driving the change. They want an integrated service where one firm handles everything from M&A to employment law to property. Mergers can offer a shortcut - bolt on expertise instead of building it from scratch.

The merger earlier this year of Wilkin Chapman and Rollits created a law firm with a combined turnover of £40m and more than 500 people, including 70 partners – the merged entity claimed it will be the largest law firm operating out of both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and has a combined history going back more than 300 years.

Robin Simmonds, chief executive of Wilkin Chapman, said: “We believe the new firm will provide our clients with the responsive, personal tailored support that they expect.”

Geography matters as well. Expanding into new regions taps fresh clients and cushions against local market swings.

Moves like Flint Bishop’s from the East Midlands into Yorkshire following last month’s acquisition of 130-year-old Lupton Fawcett, demonstrates how consolidation can become a springboard for national reach.

The move saw the workforce increase to more than 420 employees and push annual turnover beyond £40m. Flint Bishop CEO, Qamer Ghafoor, described the acquisition as “a transformative step in our growth journey, enhancing our capabilities, broadening our geographic reach, and allowing us to deliver even greater value to our clients.”

Also last month, Lincoln-based Sills & Betteridge announced its merger with historic Sheffield law firm, Bell & Buxton Solicitors. Matthew Rodgers, partner at Bell & Buxton said the merger “represented a significant step for both firms as we respond to the changing legal landscape and the evolving needs of our clients.”