Our team of specialised accountants and tax advisers are here to help you realise your potential and develop new opportunities for your law firm.

Law firms large and small, across the UK, can benefit from our unrivalled legal sector knowledge.

How can we help you?

Succession planning is a key strategy for professional practices.

Whether your strategy involves acquiring an existing firm, selling the one you own, merging with another or something else entirely, we can support you through the whole process.

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Understanding you

The legal market is changing. There has been an increase in practice mergers and acquisitions, virtual law firms are becoming a reality and technology developments are changing the way lawyers work. We can help you take advantage of the opportunities this presents for law firms and ensure you stay ahead of the game.

Established 30 years ago, our dedicated legal team has an understanding of every type of firm - we work with lawyers all day, every day. Whenever you seek our advice, you can be sure that it will always be expert, relevant and up to date.

Helping you achieve your goals

Are you looking for a comprehensive answer to:

  • What is my law firm worth?
  • How can I increase the value of my business?
  • What if I want to retire in 5 or 10 years' time?
  • What will we need to borrow to pay a retiring partner?
  • What capital should new equity partners contribute?
  • How much should we pay to acquire another law firm?
  • How do I start my own practice? 

Have you read The Law Society's LMS Financial Benchmarking Survey 2021?

The survey is widely regarded as one of the leading annual health check reports for mid-sized practices.

View the full survey

What makes us different

  • The Law Society’s LMS Financial Benchmarking Survey author since 2009.
  • First accountancy practice to join the Law Management Section of the Law Society.
  • Author of CCH's book entitled ‘Solicitors and Legal Services: An Industry Accounting and Auditing Guide’.
  • Retained by over 200 legal practices (nationwide) and their owners personally.
  • Active speakers at national legal sector events.
  • Regular contributors to the legal press.
  • Expert judges at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards in 2019 and 2020.
  • Advised over 100 practices on their conversion to LLP, limited company or hybrid structure.
  • Knowledge of the Private Equity houses that are interested in pursuing the legal sector.
  • On-site training on the SRA Accounts Rules, role of the COFA, becoming a future partner, etc.
  • Training courses for legal cashiers and accounts staff, in varying locations around the country.

Working together

We work with a number of organisations and groups to ensure we can provide you with the most up to date business advice and support for you and your law firm.


Current chair and members of the ICAEW's Solicitors Advisory Group for the last 15 years.

ILFM Executive Council members since 2014. 

Founding partner of Law Firm Ambition, a central resource for law firms. 


Calico publish free business content to support leaders of modern law firms.

SRA Accounts Rules webinar series

Stay up to date with SRA Accounts Rules compliance.

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Legal Focus            

Read the latest editions of our Legal Focus.

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 Case studies

Use of home as office allowance

Appraisal of succession issues

Buying out a retiring owner

Introduction of a holding company

CBILS and reforecasting

Getting tax affairs in order

 
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Featured news

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Legal update: HMRC is once again offering time to pay arrangements

Monday 10 January 2022

HMRC is once again offering time to pay arrangements to taxpayers who face difficulty settling their tax liability in full at the end of this month, allowing them to spread the payment over up to 12 months.
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Legal update: Realising fair value for your legal business

Wednesday 5 January 2022

The mergers and acquisitions market for independent legal businesses remains strong. Barely a week goes by without an announcement of another acquisition by a consolidator and the number of regulated firms has started to decrease after many years of stability.
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Legal update: Number of lawyers at 'virtual' law firms jumps 38% as pandemic launches a new era of hybrid working

Wednesday 8 December 2021

There has been a 38% rise in the number of lawyers at ‘virtual’ law firms in the past year, from 1,355 in 2020 to 1,875 in 2021, as the pandemic leads to a dramatic shift towards hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
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Legal update: How to deal with the commercial and regulatory issues

Monday 6 December 2021

Maintaining confidentiality in M&A transactions is mission critical and takes meticulous planning. Share information only on a strictly need-to-know basis, use properly drafted non-disclosure agreements and consider private emails for sensitive exchanges - and whatever you do, watch what you say at the kitchen table.
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Legal update: Professional indemnity insurance

Monday 29 November 2021

If you are considering a law firm merger or acquisition, then you need to take great care to understand what the position will be as far as you professional indemnity insurance (PII) is concerned.
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Legal update: Succession strategy - what to think when considering a suitable match

Monday 22 November 2021

Having clarity about your value proposition and being able to articulate it clearly is vitally important in any M&A process. Whether a firm is acquiring, merging or selling, in addition to asking themselves what is in it for me?’, more importantly they must ask what is in it for the other party?’. Investing time to scenario plan and play out the various questions or directions that conversations may take will be invaluable.
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Legal update: Buying or merging with another law firm? Be aware of the PII issues

Monday 15 November 2021

Law firms that are looking to buy, merge or otherwise acquire a firm should always proceed with care. The potential impact on your Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) is a major consideration.
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Legal update: Looking at your succession options

Monday 15 November 2021

Succession planning starts the moment you become an owner. It does not start the moment you decide that you want to sell. By starting early you maximise your opportunities in terms of options both internally and externally.
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Legal update: Key considerations for a successful merger/acquisition

Monday 8 November 2021

The long term success of a law firm merger depends on the process having firm foundations. From the outset, arguably before any discussions between firms even commence, having a clear purpose for the merger is essential. That purpose must include an understanding of how the merger will benefit the clients of both firms involved – if the clients do not benefit then it is less likely that the full potential financial benefits of the merger will be achieved.
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Legal Focus Autumn 2021

Thursday 4 November 2021

The latest version of our Legal Focus for autumn 2021 is now available.
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Legal update: A short guide to IR35

Friday 8 October 2021

IR35 is another name for the off-payroll working rules, which are designed to combat tax avoidance by consultants (also referred to as ‘workers’) that provide their services to clients via an intermediary such as a limited company, but who would be considered an employee if the intermediary was not present.
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Legal update: Key considerations for retiring law firm partners

Friday 24 September 2021

Deciding when to retire is one of the most important and difficult decisions any of us will make during our lifetime. The prospect of being able to spend more of your time pursuing your passions and interests is an attractive thought, whilst, simultaneously, the fact you will no longer have the purpose and routine of working life can often be a strange, sometimes daunting prospect.

Related videos

Top 6 merger deal breakers to consider
Dispelling the myths of selling your law firm

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Key contacts

Jon Cartwright
Jon Cartwright
Partner
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Patricia Kinahan
Patricia Kinahan
Partner
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Andy Harris
Andy Harris
Partner
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Mike Ingmire
Mike Ingmire
Director
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Jenny Staight
Jenny Staight
Director
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Gill Kempster
Gill Kempster
Associate Tax Director
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Ellen Capewell
Ellen Capewell
Associate Director
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Jack Hayman
Jack Hayman
Legal Senior Manager
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Hayley Scott
Hayley Scott
Senior Manager
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Faye Warren
Faye Warren
Senior Manager
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Maria Smith
Maria Smith
Manager
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Karl Millward
Karl Millward
Tax Manager
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