Completion of Deloitte Legal and Kemp Little acquisition

Deloitte Legal has announced 29 new partners following completion of its “landmark” acquisition of Kemp Little’s 144-strong technology and digital media law team.

The move is the latest in the expansion of the Big Four accountancy firms into the legal service market and doubles its lawyer headcount to at least 170.

Kemp Little is no longer authorised and regulated and is being renamed KL Heritage LLP. 

Michael Castle, managing partner for Deloitte Legal in the UK said this was “transformative” for the firm, adding: “The depth of talent in the Kemp Little team and the quality of their innovative legal tech products allow us to provide clients with an even broader and deeper range of legal expertise to complement existing services in advisory, technology, consultancy and managed services. We are now offering truly end-to-end professional and legal services to our clients.” 

Andrew Joint, Kemp Little's former managing partner now partner and head of legal advisory at Deloitte Legal, added: “Today is a landmark moment in Kemp Little’s history. 

“We are joining a firm that not only shares our principles in creating unique and exciting legal service offerings for the market, but it will also allow our talented legal experts to flourish and benefit from the global scale of the Deloitte network.

“The transition and integration planning have been a tremendous success, despite the obvious challenges of being conducted virtually. We are hitting the ground running and together, as Deloitte Legal, will continue to help our clients realise their legal potential.” 

The completed transaction also sees the successful transfer of Kemp Little’s award-winning legal tech products, which include IP protection tool Dupe Killer and contract analysis system Four Corners intelligence, were also transferred to Deloitte Legal as part of the transaction. 

“Technology is reinventing the way legal work is being delivered and it underpins everything that we do”, said Deloitte Legal’s chief technology office Bruce Braude. 

“We want to do everything we can to help our people and our clients harness the considerable benefits created by advancements in legal technology”, he added.