New accounts reveal tens of millions spent acquiring regional law firms across England
Newly published accounts have revealed the scale of spending by Lawfront Holdings as it continued an aggressive expansion strategy through the acquisition of regional law firms.
The annual report, filed this week and covering the year to 31 March 2025, provides details of deals that were not disclosed at the time they were completed. Lawfront is one of the largest consolidators in the UK legal market and has pursued rapid growth through buying established regional practices.
The largest acquisition disclosed in the report took place shortly after the end of the reporting period. In May 2025, Lawfront acquired south south-west firm Trethowans for an initial payment of £34.2m. The deal was funded through a combination of borrowing and a share issue in the parent company and incurred associated costs of £1.1m. Companies House records show that five directors of Trethowans left the firm upon completion of the sale.
Earlier in the year, Lawfront completed the acquisition of South East firm Brachers. In January 2025, the group paid around £17.6m upfront for full ownership of the firm. The total value of the deal could rise by a further £9m depending on future performance-related considerations.
Another major transaction during the financial year involved Manchester firm Slater Heelis. That acquisition is now disclosed as having involved a cash payment of £12.2m, along with contingent payments of around £6m. The firm contributed £16.9m in turnover and £2.1m in profit before tax during the year.
Alongside these regional hub acquisitions, Lawfront also completed a series of smaller purchases, which were integrated into its existing firms. These included costs draughtsman firm Godfrey Wright Limited for £367,000, Burton-based Else Solicitors for £1.3m, and Wigan firm ABH Solicitors for £3.3m. All were acquired during the 2024 slash 25 financial year.
The group has also continued to make contingent payments to former owners of firms acquired in earlier years. A final payment of £2.1m was made in respect of the north west firm Farleys Solicitors, in addition to its original purchase price. During the year, a final contingent payment of £1.18m was agreed with Essex firm Fisher Jones Greenwood.
Lawfront reported that all firms acquired during the year continued to trade profitably. The group’s net assets increased from £14m to £22m, while borrowings rose from £24.5m in March 2024 to £56.4m by the end of March 2025. This included an extension of a long-term loan to £33m and the build-up of a £22m acquisition facility.
Turnover rose sharply from £47m to £74m, although the group moved from a £2m profit to a loss of £849,000. Group headcount reached 976 by March 2025 and has since exceeded 1,000 following the Trethowans acquisition.
In a statement accompanying the accounts, director Nigel Osborne said the group continued to pursue its ambition to become a national provider of legal services through strategic growth, investment in staff and further acquisitions supported by a central management team.