East Midlands law companies merge to create 200-strong firm
Mon, 02 Oct 2023 | MERGER
Two long-standing law firms in the East Midlands have merged, creating a business with a 200-strong team and close to 30 partners. Rotheras Solicitors LLP, based in Nottingham, has joined forces with Leicester-based Bray & Bray Solicitors to form Rothera Bray LLP.
All existing staff and partners will join the new firm, while the clients of both companies will also be brought under the new LLP. The deal comes amid a period of growing M&A activity in the UK legal sector, with deals being driven by high levels of fragmentation, private equity investment, rising costs and succession planning issues, among other factors.
Rotheras, which dates back to the 1800’s, focuses on private client services, while Bray and Bray specialises in corporate and commercial clients.
Rotheras Solicitors Chief Executive Christina Yardley said that the merger would expand both the geographical reach and breadth of expertise of the two companies and create one of the UK’s top 200 law firms by revenue.
Tim Gladdle, senior partner at Bray & Bray, added: "The merger is an excellent opportunity for us to expand the expertise within our teams whilst growing and developing our offering to clients across the East Midlands and nationally.”
Gladdle continued: "We look forward to aligning our approach and values in a merger that will strengthen our market offering which will benefit from new technologies that will streamline processes and infrastructure, adding further value to our client experience."
The merger was facilitated by the Ortus Group, which has an extensive history with both firms, having a long-standing working relationship with Bray and Bray and recently representing Derby firm JH Powell during its sale to Rotheras.
Ortus Group founder and managing director Colin White said: "Having known Bray & Bray for such a long time and latterly getting to know Rotheras, I recognise two firms as being culturally so aligned that I had to explore the feasibility of introducing them to one another."
"Their complementary strengths together with what I knew about their ambitions meant I was confident they would become greater than the sum of their parts and I am delighted to have played a role in creating this new firm."
Find out more about what's driving legal sector dealmaking
Share this article
Latest Professional and Financial Businesses for Sale
Accountancy Business
West Sussex, South East, UK
My client, a reputable firm in the area comes to the market due to retirement with a view to finding a friendly and professional purchaser that will retain staff and premises.
Accredited Accountancy
Sussex, South East, UK
This vendor is seeking a reputable, well-established buyer who understands the importance of nurturing long-term relationships with both staff and clients.
Accounting Practice
South West, UK
Well-established practice seeking a professional and approachable firm to provide additional centralised resources to support the continued growth of the business and assist with staff development.