Private equity investment fuels major overhaul of Grant Thornton’s associate scheme Prof Services Professional services giant Grant Thornton is launching a “brand new associate programme” for its 2027 cohort of associates, City AM can reveal, as private equity investment from Cinven sets the firm’s ambition for significant growth. The firm voted in favour of an investment from private equity firm Cinven in 2024. Speaking to City AM, Abigail [...]
Traditional legal model shaken by investor interest and IPO ambitions Legal External investment is increasing in mid-size legal firms, according to a new report, which revealed that nearly 70 per cent of firms have been approached by private equity investors or PE-backed entities in the last year. New data from MHA, in conjunction with the Law Society, shared with City AM, shows that the majority of [...]
Legora CEO: Law degree is not enough -‘AI knows the law’ – what do you bring? Legal AI has turned the business world on its head and no more so than in the legal sector, where knowledge-intensive roles going toe-to-toe with knowledge-based tech is driving a significant shift in the industry. A lot of the attention has been on the implications of the surge in investment in AI for jobs, especially at [...]
Private equity could soon own a piece of major US law firm November 12, 2025 US law firm McDermott Will & Schulte is reportedly exploring a complex restructuring to allow private equity firms to buy a stake in what could be a major move in the legal market. The proposed structure, as reported by the Financial Times, involves creating a managed service organisation (MSO), a separate entity in which outside [...]
Law firm Freshfields kicks off paralegal redundancies September 12, 2025 Top British law firm Freshfields has kicked off a round of redundancies targeting paralegals in its Manchester office. According to a legal trade publication, Roll on Friday, paralegals in the Manchester office were summoned to a meeting last week titled “Important Update.” According to sources, the firm plans to axe about half of its junior [...]
Private equity circles the legal market, but not all firms are viable for investment boost June 26, 2025 It is no surprise that law firms have become a new target of interest for private equity firms as the legal sector is a big moneymaker
Law firm mergers down as lawyers hold out for private equity appetite June 17, 2025 Mergers within the UK legal market have declined in the past year as lawyers are holding out for a bite from private equity.
DWF: Sir Nigel Knowles to retire as new CEO named June 16, 2025 Sir Nigel Knowles, the chief executive of legal services giant DWF, is to step down from the role after five years, it has been revealed. The CEO will retire from the position he has held since May 2020 on 1 August but will remain with the firm as a senior advisor. He will be succeeded [...]
Virgin Media O2 to create £1.4bn giant in mega deal May 12, 2025 Virgin Media O2 has announced plans to create a new communications and IT giant which is expected to turn over around £1.4bn. The move will see Virgin Media O2 and Daisy Group combine their direct B2B (business to business) operations. Virgin Media O2 is to own 70 per cent of the new entity, with Lancashire-headquartered [...]
Why the London Stock Exchange is no longer a home for the legal sector January 14, 2025 A scandal broke out at one of the only remaining listed legal groups last week. It is time to say the London Stock Exchange is not the place for the legal sector