Palamon's QualitySolicitors acquires Simplify

The investment is the first to be made from Palamon's Auxiliary Partnership 2013 fund, which closed in September last year.

The transaction is part of Palamon's strategy to build a large UK legal provider, following changes in the UK legal market. In 2012, the alternative business structure (ABS) licence was put in place by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Since then, several private equity firms have invested in the space as legal services become easier to access for consumers, including NorthEdge's recent investment in Roberts Jackson.

Palamon invested in QualitySolicitors in 2011 in a deal worth more than £10m, according to unquote" data. Since then, Palamon has provided additional funding to support the company's research and development activities, as well as expand its network of new law firms.

Company
Simplify comprises legal entities Move With Us, DC Law and Chorus Law. The group generates a combined turnover of £60m.

Move With Us, founded in 1997, is a management conveyancing panel, working with a network of more than 1,200 estate agents across the country. The organisation focuses on conveyancing instructions, working with property services businesses involved with new home developers, lenders and estate administrators.

Chorus Law is a specialist probate provider, delivering probate and estate administration services.

DC Law is a conveyancing producer.

Launched in 2010, QualitySolicitors today has a UK-wide network of 100 partner firms in 200 locations. The group handles £200m of legal work each year.

People
Daan Knottenbelt is a partner at Palamon. Eddie Ross is CEO of QualitySolicitors. Grant Mckerron is chairman of Simplify.

Advisers
Equity - CIL, Alex Marshall (Commerical due diligence). 

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• Topics
• UK / Ireland
• Expansion
• Palamon Capital Partners
• United Kingdom