Private equity house Blixt has completed its latest acquisition to the Lawfront legal services group with North West firm Farleys’ acquisition of Wigan-based Alker Ball Healds Solicitors (ABH).
Farleys was acquired by Blixt in 2022 for a sum in the region of £18m. In April 2023 the firm acquired serious injury and professional negligence claims firm Mulderrigs Solicitors with ABH being the second acquisition since it became part of Lawfront.
ABH was formed in 2014, following a merger between Wigan law firms Alker & Ball and Healds Solicitors, boasting a presence in Wigan since 1852. Like Mulderrigs Solicitors, ABH will continue to operate as a trading name of Farleys with all 32 employees remaining.
Keith Whitehead ABH joint-Managing Director said:
“We have built a fantastic team of skilled and trusted lawyers and want to continue that growth. With access to a wider range of services and resources and the well-recognised brand of Farleys, we look forward to growing our own professional family here in Wigan to continue looking after our clients, their families, and the wider business community across Greater Manchester.”
Gary Shepherd added he was excited about the ‘greater resources’ that Lawfront can provide, broadening the firm’s legal offering which has to date focused on commercial litigation, commercial property, corporate; and a range of private client services including family, residential property, personal injury and wills and probate.
“It is great to be joining a forward-thinking team of people who share our down to earth values, and a focus on delivering straightforward legal advice. When the opportunity presented itself to join Farleys, we knew that it was the right fit culturally for our people and our clients, who will all benefit from the greater resource that Farleys as a Lawfront firm can provide.
Daniel Draper, Managing Partner at Farleys said
“We are delighted to welcome the ABH team to the Farleys family as the next step in our plans to increase our presence across the region and grow our firm further. This is a fantastic opportunity for Farleys and will unlock many more opportunities for our firm as we look to build upon the existing well-known brand, quality service and strong client base that are already associated with the ABH name in the local community. We also look forward to building the team further through recruitment in the local area.”
Neil Lloyd, Lawfront CEO, added:
“It is great to see Farleys complete its second acquisition since joining Lawfront. We back our regional firms to accelerate their growth ambitions. Acquisitions such as this are a positive demonstration of our commitment to invest in our firms. We are proud to welcome the ABH team to Farleys and look forward to watching the team grow and develop.”
