Knights eyes biggest deal yet with £42m Moore Barlow talks

Listed consolidator Knights confirmed it is in discussions to potentially acquire its largest regional law firm yet.

Addressing speculation in a stock exchange statement on Wednesday (25 March), the firm said it is in discussions with Moore Barlow over a potential acquisition.

If completed, the deal would mark Knights’ biggest acquisition so far, continuing its strategy of scaling through regional consolidation.

Moore Barlow has roots dating back to 1797 and counts 450 staff. It posted revenue of £42 million in 2024/25 and houses practices across family, private wealth, personal injury, real estate, corporate and employment.

For comparison, Knights’ largest acquisition so far is its £30 million purchase of IBB Law last year, a move that added 140 lawyers to its network, which is now around 1,250.

Regional consolidation play

A central part of Knights’ growth strategy is to expand across the UK regions through acquisitions.

The firm said it “regularly considers selected value-accretive strategic opportunities with a strong cultural fit and the potential to support future organic growth”.

Knights was an early mover in the UK legal market’s shift towards external capital, taking private equity investment in 2012 before listing on AIM in 2018. Since then, it has completed 28 acquisitions with revenue coming in at £162 million for the 2025 financial year.

Moore Barlow, which has offices in the City, Guildford, Richmond, Wokingham, Lymington and Southampton, would expand Knights’ already broad reach across England.

Alongside its acquisition of IBB Law, it last year bought Kent and Sussex firm Rix & Kay and Essex-based Birkett Long.