Greenwoods becomes latest UK firm to take private equity investment

Regional law firm Greenwoods has become the latest UK player to take on private equity investment, securing backing from Gresham House Ventures to fuel its next growth phase.

Greenwoods has offices across London, Cambridge and Peterborough. It said the investment will accelerate plans around technology, AI and sustainability, as well as talent development.

CEO Rob Dillarstone will continue to lead the business, while Clare Harris steps into the newly combined managing partner and COO role. The size of the investment has not been disclosed.

The deal

Gresham House is a London-based lower mid-market PE house that has previously backed legal tech company Legatics. Greenwoods, which has 28 partners (five of them equity) and posted £13.7 million in revenue in 2024, said the deal will help it expand both organically and through acquisitions.

The firm has also added independent chair Graham Coxell and non-executive director Mark Stroud, both experienced in scaling professional services businesses.

Private capital momentum

It’s the latest in a notable uptick of private equity plays in the UK legal market this year. Midlands firm Higgs and Manchester-based Leonard Curtis both landed new backers in August, while litigation finance giant Burford Capital took a stake in law firm consultancy Kindleworth in September.

Most of the activity is happening at the lower end of the top 200, though chatter is growing that larger PE funds are now eyeing bigger firms higher up the market.

According to Adil Taha of advisory boutique Taha & Watmough, the deal gives Greenwoods the "catalyst and boost it needs" after several years of mixed growth. "We’re talking to many firms that have trended flat for years and are now looking outside the sector for capital and investment," he said.

What they said

Dillarstone said: "This is the natural next step for us. We’ve got big plans - and now we’ve got the backing to make them happen."

Gresham House investment partner Greg Blin added: "Our investment will support the firm’s plans to innovate and grow, both organically and through acquisitions, while maintaining the culture and values that set it apart."