Beyond Law Group has secured investment from Waterland Private Equity to build yet further momentum in delivering its long-term vision to become the UK’s leading law firm for corporate and consumer legal services.
The partnership between Beyond Law Group and Waterland Private Equity will support the Group’s strategic growth ambitions, which will be achieved through both organic growth and a precise and strategic approach to acquisitions.
Widely regarded as a disrupter to the traditional legal industry, Beyond Law Group creates, builds and grows specialist legal practices each with individual client propositions. Through its entrepreneurial management team, strategy and distinctive brand, the Group offers a more disruptive, innovative, culture centric approach to legal services; a very real alternative option to lawyers and clients who are looking for something different to “big firm” law.
Established in 2017, Beyond Law Group has seen rapid growth through all its specialist practices which include Beyond Corporate, McAlister Family Law and the recently established Home Property Law. With “beyond traditional” offices in Manchester, Cheshire and London, the Group now employs over 100 people, has grown organically by 20% year on year and has been recognised by The Financial Times as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe.
The Group’s strategy is to expand its niche practice portfolio and further develop its existing practices in primary locations across the UK having an identified a pipeline of new partner hires, team lifts and strategic acquisitions which will not only strengthen existing services but will add new specialist capabilities.
As part of its strategy, the Group is focusing on high-quality acquisitions as well as organic growth opportunities and to support that vision, the management team have appointed Steve Smith, former Daisy Group CFO, to join the board as a non-executive Director, enabling the Group to bring acquisition capabilities in house.
The investment from Waterland further underpins Beyond Law Group’s strategy and vision, as well as ensuring the continued recruitment and retention of top talent across all locations. Matt Fleetwood, Beyond Law Group’s Founder and Chief Executive, will continue to lead the business supported by McAlister Family Law Managing Partner, Amanda McAlister, and Beyond Corporate Managing Partner, James Corlett.
James Fitzgibbon of Squire Patton Boggs acted for the Company whilst Kieran Toal led the corporate team at Pinsent Masons acting for Waterland.
Other professional services businesses recently backed by Waterland include Cooper Parry, AFO Group, Moore Belgium and Horn & Company.
Matt Fleetwood, Beyond Law Group’s Founder and Chief Executive, comments: “In Waterland we have found an experienced and supportive partner to help us achieve our growth ambitions and vision of being the UK’s leading provider of corporate and consumer legal services. We see strong potential to expand nationally, particularly in London, and Waterland’s experience as a specialist buy and build investor will help us to deliver our ambitious acquisition strategy, finding high-quality businesses to partner with and integrate into our growing network.”
Wendy McMillan, Partner at Waterland Private Equity, comments: “Beyond Law Group is a stand-out professional services business which is disrupting the legal industry and setting itself apart from its competitors. We are looking forward to working closely with Matt and the management team to support their vision for the future and enable Beyond Law Group to continue to expand its portfolio through a combination of buy and build and organic growth. Together we will continue to accelerate Beyond Law Group’s journey of sustained success, and we are delighted to be supporting the business in this way.”
