Impact Lawyers acquires The Legal Partners

Impact Lawyers, one of the UK’s fastest growing business law platform firms, has agreed terms to acquire The Legal Partners, a respected Richmond-based law firm specialising in business law, employment law and dispute resolution. This strategic move will give Impact Lawyers an established London presence, take the company into regulated service provision, and more than double annual revenue.

From a standing start less than two years ago, Impact Lawyers has won multiple industry awards and achieved rapid organic growth. This first acquisition will bolster the business to a seven-figure turnover. With this development, Impact Lawyers will increase its in-house headcount to three and its UK-wide consultant network to 16. Moreover, the firm will broaden its corporate, commercial, employment law, and HR service delivery, extending into areas such as dispute resolution, representation at Employment Tribunals, and proceedings in the County and High Courts.

While The Legal Partners was founded more than 20 years before Impact Lawyers, the businesses are strongly aligned culturally and operationally. “It’s time to redefine how advice is delivered to business owners and SMEs in a highly commercial, practical and human way,” explains Impact Lawyers’ Co-founder and Co-managing Partner, Kevin Withane. He further emphasises, “It’s also time to rethink how the legal profession operates. We’re here to serve clients and our consultants, championing the fact that we’re all humans not machines. That means supporting ways of working that are sustainable for both our team and clients.”

The acquisition progressed from the first meeting to signed terms in just six weeks. “We adopted the same approach as we do for our own M&A clients. Look for a human connection and have honest conversations right at the start. It either kills a deal before you waste time on it, or in this case, paves the way to fast track. This is a pivotal step in our journey, and we’re excited to be taking it with The Legal Partners,” continues Withane.

Commenting on what it means to become part of Impact Lawyers, Richard Mullett, Founder at The Legal Partners, general counsel lawyer, and ex Slaughter and May corporate lawyer said, “We will maintain our close relationships and the personal, accessible approach that our clients know. Impact Lawyers’ additional HR services and training, and the greater depth of expertise within the combined teams across business law, M&A and fundraising, will strengthen the support we can offer clients. The team and I are really looking forward to what we can achieve together.”

The acquisition is subject to SRA approval