HCR Law acquires Wright Hassall through a pre-pack administration, forming a £112m group
Top-200 Midlands firm Wright Hassall has been acquired by national practice HCR Law through a pre-pack administration process, creating a combined business of more than 1,000 staff and annual turnover of £112m. The deal brings together two full-service firms with significant regional footprints, though the debt collection business QDR Solicitors, previously part of Wright Hassall, has not transferred under the arrangement.
HCR Law confirmed that staff across Wright Hassall’s legal operations have been offered the opportunity to join the enlarged group. No information has yet been released about the causes of Wright Hassall’s administration, and it remains unclear whether the restructure will lead to job losses in back-office or operational functions.
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Announcing the deal, Sam Payne, joint head of HCR’s Leamington Spa office, said the move reflected shared strengths and long-term ambition. “We’re delighted to be joined by Wright Hassall,” he said. “This is about building on shared strengths and creating new opportunities for our clients and staff. For now, it’s ‘business as usual’ for clients, who we look forward to supporting further.”
The combined practice will operate across 12 locations, including the former Wright Hassall office in Leamington Spa, which will now trade as HCR Wright Hassall. That site will be jointly led by Payne and fellow HCR partner Heath Thomas. The firms say the merger offers continuity for clients at a time of significant change, while aligning two established regional operations under a single structure.
Wright Hassall, founded in 1846, is one of the Midlands’ longest-established firms and has long been recognised for both its broad service offering and its name, which the partnership has often good-humouredly acknowledged has attracted “gentle ribbing.” The firm enjoyed national visibility in the 2010s through awards and continued to play a prominent role in its local community. Last year it marked two decades of headline sponsorship of the 10k Wright Hassall Regency Run in Leamington.
Despite its heritage, recently filed LLP accounts indicated a mixed financial picture. In the year to 31 March 2024, turnover increased modestly by 3% to £17.7m, while profit before tax and members’ remuneration rose sharply by 38% to £2m. Profit distribution to the 17 LLP members grew from £1m in 2023 to £1.48m in 2024.
However, the firm’s cash position had deteriorated significantly. Cash reserves dropped from more than £700,000 to £57,000 within the same reporting period. Staffing levels also fell, declining from 218 to 181. Over a longer timeframe, the partnership had seen reduced income, with turnover previously exceeding £25m in 2019/20 and profits surpassing £3m the year before.
The pre-pack administration involves the sale of the viable legal business to a solvent acquiring firm immediately upon entering administration, a structure designed to preserve client service and maximise value. In this case, HCR Law has taken on the legal operations and staff, while QDR Solicitors did not form part of the transfer and its position remains separate.
HCR Law, which has grown steadily through a series of strategic acquisitions and office expansions, now gains both scale and a stronger Midlands presence. The firm said it intends to maintain continuity for existing clients and emphasised that everyday casework and ongoing matters would continue uninterrupted during the transition.
The joining of the two businesses marks a significant step in the consolidation of the regional legal market. The consultation process for Wright Hassall staff is ongoing as HCR integrates the newly acquired operation and assesses how the enlarged firm will be structured in the months ahead.