Freeths transfers specialist Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection teams to Fletchers
Freeths has agreed to transfer its Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection teams to Fletchers Group in a significant expansion move within the specialist legal services market. The deal will see 42 colleagues move from Freeths to Fletchers Group, including 21 staff working in clinical negligence and 21 in Court of Protection services.
Under the agreement, the clinical negligence team will join Fletchers Solicitors, while the Court of Protection team will become part of EMG, a standalone business within Fletchers Group led by Emma Gaudern. Freeths said the transfer reflects changes within the legal market, where scale and investment are increasingly important in specialist practice areas. The firm confirmed it will continue focusing on the growth of its strategic divisions, including its private client business.
Karl Jansen said the specialist teams had built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality work and achieving significant outcomes for clients. He added that Fletchers Group offered the right platform to support future growth for both clients and staff due to its scale, focus and long-term investment strategy. The transferring teams are currently based in Nottingham, Oxford, and Derby and are expected to join Fletchers in June 2026.
Fletchers Group said the incoming teams bring extensive experience handling high-value and complex work. The clinical negligence practice includes more than 530 active cases, and both divisions hold Tier 1 rankings in legal directories. The clinical negligence team is led by Jane Williams and Carolyn Lowe, while the Court of Protection division is led by Natasha Molloy.
Peter Haden said the acquisition would reinforce the group’s position as a leading provider of specialist legal services for clients with serious injuries and long-term needs. He said the Court of Protection addition would strengthen support for clients requiring ongoing assistance following clinical negligence or serious injury claims.
Emma Gaudern, chief executive of EMG, described the deal as another important step in the expansion of the group’s Court of Protection business. The latest transaction follows Fletchers Group’s recent acquisitions, including EMG, JE Bennett Law, and Shoosmiths’ serious injury practice.
Following completion, Fletchers said its clinical negligence division will comprise more than 400 colleagues managing over 10,300 cases. EMG’s Court of Protection and private client business will exceed 300 staff nationwide. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.