PE-backed Lawfront adds £15m Reading firm in latest regional acquisition

Private-equity backed Lawfront has acquired Field Seymour Parkes (FSP), a Reading-based law firm with around £15 million in turnover, as it continues to build out its national platform.

FSP has 85 qualified professionals and advises both business and private clients across real estate, corporate, private client, employment and dispute resolution.

Lawfront is one of the UK’s most active consolidators, backed by private equity group Blixt. The group has grown through acquisitions of full-service regional firms including Brachers, Slater Heelis and Trethowans.

South England-based Trethowans joined the group last year in its thirteenth acquisition, taking total fee income to more than £130 million.

A new geography

The deal gives Lawfront a presence in Reading, extending its footprint into the Thames Valley.

Neil Lloyd, chief executive of Lawfront, said: “Field Seymour Parkes is a great addition to Lawfront. They bring a strong market position in a new geography for us, helping fill out our national network of regional firms.  

Strong profitable growth, an ambitious management team and a great people culture, they have all the things we look for in our regional partner firms.”

Infrastructure support

Ian Machray, managing partner of Field Seymour Parkes, said: “This partnership will accelerate our organic growth ambitions, enabling us to invest in new talent, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and take on increasingly complex, high-value work for our clients.

Lawfront’s platform provides the infrastructure and support to secure our firm’s long-term success while preserving the client-focused culture that has defined us.”