Knights strengthens presence with Moore Barlow acquisition

Knights has announced the completion of its acquisition of Moore Barlow, a significant move that bolsters its presence in southern England and brings new colleagues and clients into the UK's largest regional legal and professional services firm. With this acquisition, Knights expands to Guildford, Lymington, Richmond, and Southampton, increasing its national footprint to 33 locations. This move not only deepens Knights’ expertise across various sectors including Corporate, Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family, Real Estate Disputes, and Private Client services but also strengthens its focus on Education, Charities & Not-for-profit, and Landed Estates & Rural Business.

This acquisition reflects Knights’ ongoing strategy of executing selective and culturally aligned growth opportunities, establishing a platform for future organic development. Central to this partnership is a shared commitment to client relationships, emphasising the importance of personal connections and tailored professional services. As Knights puts it, “The best professional relationships are personal ones,” allowing clients to continue working with familiar faces while gaining access to a broader array of expertise as their needs evolve.

David Beech, CEO of Knights, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, asserting, “The strength of Moore Barlow has always been its people, the relationships they have built and the quality of their expertise.” He highlighted the alignment in ethos between the two firms, stating, “Clients should know the people advising them, be able to reach them when they need them, and receive advice shaped around their particular circumstances.”

Beech further noted the enhancements this acquisition would bring, noting, “It enables us to continue investing in our people, technology and specialist expertise.” With this acquisition, Knights now boasts over 200 professionals in Commercial Real Estate and more than 100 in Residential Property, along with one of the largest legal groups specialised in Landed Estates & Rural Business in the UK.

Set against a backdrop of increasing complexity and regulatory changes facing businesses, Knights aims to maintain its focus on personal relationships while leveraging technological advancements to enhance service delivery. This acquisition, rooted in the heritage of legal services since 1759, reinforces Knights’ commitment to providing premium professional services while ensuring accessibility and close client relationships are at the forefront of its operations. With this strategic move, Knights not only increases its operational scale but also enhances its capacity to meet the evolving needs of its clients across the south of England