As part of its ambitious strategy for growth in Leicester and the wider East Midlands region, law firm Nelsons has announced the acquisition of award-winning family solicitors and mediators Glynis Wright & Co.
Nelsons, a top 200 law firm based in New Walk, Leicester, says the transaction will support its vision to become the strongest and biggest family law department in the East Midlands.
As of Tuesday on December 1, Nelsons acquired the shares of Glynis & Co, which means the practice is now a subsidiary of Nelsons and will continue trading as Glynis Wright & Co maintaining full operational separation until the business transfers to Nelsons on December 21.
Last year, Nelsons hit the first milestone of its financial target – growing its after-tax profits by 27% to £3.6 million and boosting turnover by eight percent from £15.9m to £17.2 million for the year ending May 2019, which also marked its most successful year in Leicester. It has ambitions to grow further and become the first-choice firm in its target markets in the city.
Glynis Wright & Co, in Regent Road, was founded in April 2011 by Glynis Wright, who has grown it into a £1.2 million turnover firm. Glynis will join Nelsons’ Leicester office as a partner and head up the family law team in the city. With her she will bring seven lawyers, and one soon-to-be qualified solicitor, who specialise in all aspects of private family law cases, many of which are high value, including complex financial settlements.
Nelsons’ chief executive Stewart Vandermark said: “This transaction further supports our ambitious strategy to increase Nelsons’ overall turnover to £20m and underlines our aspirations in Leicester, demonstrating our commitment to and investment in the city.
“The Glynis Wright & Co team is extremely well-regarded, and their knowledge will bolster our expertise in family law not only in Leicester, but also in the wider East Midlands region.
“Both practices have strong reputations, similar values and financially, have been performing very well recently. More importantly, we share the same vision, which is to come together to create something even greater – the biggest and strongest family law department in the East Midlands.”
Nelsons, which also has offices in Nottingham and Derby, employs more than 190 people across the East Midlands. In Leicester, the law firm – which has been supporting businesses, individuals and families with their legal and investment needs for the past 20 years – employs 25 people, including seven partners and 13 additional fee earners.
Stewart added: “I first met Glynis back in 2019 and was immediately struck by her passion, vision, energy and the leadership she has shown to build the practice from a start-up to a leading family law firm in such a short period of time. We shared similar ideas on the importance of investing in our people and building a strong culture.
“While the onset of the pandemic interrupted our discussions initially, the compelling strategic fit between the businesses, our shared ambition and the strong performance of both businesses in lockdown meant that it was not long before we picked up the discussions. We’re delighted that the acquisition has now come to fruition.
“We’re looking forward to Glynis and her team joining Nelsons and supporting us as we push boundaries to empower our clients – giving them a voice, fighting for them, helping them seek justice and steering them through the complex legal issues they face.”
Glynis Wright & Co is a niche, highly specialised family law and mediation practice. In 2018, it became the first and only Leicester firm to win Law Firm of the Year in the national Law Society Excellence Awards. It has built a strong reputation in the Leicester area, and places an emphasis on its charitable work, with Glynis recently named as fundraiser of the year at the Leicestershire Community Champion Awards 2020.
Glynis – who is currently a finalist in the East Midlands Leadership Awards for the Company Director of the Year (less than 100 employees) and Transformational Leader categories – said: “Over the years, Glynis Wright & Co has taken a lead in the Leicester market and that’s something I’ve always wanted to build on regionally and beyond.
“Nelsons is a vibrant, dynamic and innovative company that is wanting to develop the Leicester market and become the strongest regional firm, so our ambitions match up perfectly.
“Culturally, we’re very well aligned too. We place a premium on looking after our team and providing an excellent service to our clients, and Nelsons has a history that has its origins steeped in servicing the client, and is dedicated to attracting and retaining the best lawyers in the region.
“Once we discovered that our objectives were united, we knew that together, we would be even stronger and could create the most well sought-after family law provision in the Midlands. My team is made up of some of the region’s best divorce lawyers; they’re highly motivated and very well thought of, and we’re extremely excited to join Nelsons and take the family market by storm.”
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