Member Article

Liverpool law firm sells Chester office to rivals

Leading Liverpool law firm Hill Dickinson has sold its Chester office to another operation.

Staffordshire-based commercial law firm Knights Solicitors has bought the office, which comprises four partners and 20 staff. This is the first acquisition Knights has made following the private equity investment it received from Hamilton Bradshaw, the private equity firm headed by former ‘Dragon’s Den’ star Fames Caan.

It underlines the firm’s intention to double its turnover in the next three years and to become a top 100 law firm.

Hill Dickinson recently revised its strategy to focus on and grow its international profile. As such, Managing Partner Peter Jackson finds Knights the best option to take on the Chester office. Both firms see the move as a “seamless fit” due to similarities in client base and services.

Commenting on the acquisition, Peter Jackson, managing partner of Hill Dickinson, said “We are very pleased to have agreed the acquisition of our Chester office by Knights.

“Although we were approached by a number of impressive interested parties, we felt that Knights’ business model and entrepreneurial approach would provide an expansive and rewarding future for the Chester office as a whole and for its individuals.We feel it will be in very safe hands.”

David Beech, managing partner at Knights, said: “The Chester office is a natural fit for us as we expand our footprint throughout the UK. The existing Chester partners who are joining Knights were delighted with the transition and are confident that the prospect of new and substantial investment will enable the office to build upon its already strong and substantial client base.”

Hill Dickinson, whose main headquarters is in St Paul’s Square at the heart of Liverpool’s Commercial District, employs 1,080 people in the North West.

Hill Dickinson has offices in Manchester, London, Sheffield, Greece, Singapore and Monaco..

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .