Introduction
Usually, when we hear about law firms joining together, the result is pretty simple: Firm A + Firm B = one larger firm. Moore Barlow’s latest deal is different.
Its Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Major Trauma teams are joining Fletchers Solicitors, while its Court of Protection team is moving to Fletchers-owned EMG Solicitors. Moore Barlow’s interest in Aspire Law, its joint venture with spinal cord injury charity Aspire, is also moving to Fletchers. Around 100 colleagues, including 12 partners, are expected to move across.
At the same time, Knights is paying £27 million for Moore Barlow’s commercial and private wealth business, bringing around 160 fee earners into Knights. The transaction represents around £30 million of revenue.
The transactions are expected to be completed in November, subject to the necessary approvals. But why would a successful law firm choose to split itself between two different buyers?
Why do Fletchers and Knights want different parts?
The answer is fit.
Fletchers is a specialist claimant firm, so Moore Barlow's Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Major Trauma teams fit directly into its existing practice. The deal also gives Fletchers a larger presence in London and the South East.
Knights is taking over Moore Barlow's commercial and private wealth business, which accounts for around 70% of its revenue. Knights says the business generates around £30 million in revenue, and expects it to become significantly more profitable once it joins Knights.
Interestingly, Moore Barlow's partners aren't getting the full £27m upfront. £18m lands on completion, but the remaining £9m is paid out in installments over the next three years, and only if certain conditions are met.
So, from the buyers' perspective, the logic is fairly simple: they are buying established businesses that fit what they already do and want to grow.
But why would Moore Barlow agree?
Moore Barlow isn't a failing business. According to Knights, its draft accounts for the year ended April 2026 show £45 million in revenue and £13 million in profits distributable to members.
Moore Barlow says its partnership decided that separating the businesses would give them greater opportunities to achieve their growth ambitions.
But that's about as far as the public explanation goes.
Future Outlook
I'll be honest: this deal is still a bit of a head-scratcher to me.
There are obviously people much closer to the deal who understand why this works better for Moore Barlow than continuing as it was, or potentially combining with another firm. We just don't have access to those conversations.
What makes the deal particularly interesting is that Moore Barlow isn't in administration or being rescued from financial trouble. We don't often see a successful law firm sell off different parts of its business to different buyers, with those businesses then becoming part of completely separate legal groups.
So, for me, the interesting part now is watching what happens after the deal.
Fletchers and Knights are both looking to strengthen their presence in the South East, including London, but they are doing it in very different areas of law. It will be interesting to see what they do with the teams, relationships and expertise they have acquired; and whether the growth they expect actually materialises.
And then there's Aspire Law, which adds another interesting element. Its established brand will continue, with spinal cord injury charity Aspire retaining its stake, but it will now sit within Fletchers Group.
The deal makes sense from the buyers' perspective. What I'm still interested in seeing is whether it makes sense from Moore Barlow's perspective, as well.
That, really, is something we won't know until we can look back on the deal rather than just look at the announcement.