What is ALFMA?

Law firm mergers affect every aspect of your business. The Association of Law Firm Merger Advisers (ALFMA) was formed by a team of proven market experts, to help you take the risk out of the process as far as possible. Our members are accountants, specialist brokers, partnership lawyers and strategic experts. We can account for over 150 successful mergers between us. By working together we help our clients to achieve more.

Services

Strategic Advice

We use our extensive experience to help you identify your true rationale for a merger and your desired outcomes. Once understood, they inform the negotiating stance and set the strategy for delivering the best possible result

Target Research

You may have an ideal candidate in mind or know of firms you wouldn’t want to approach. Taking that into account we can produce a long list of potential suitors. Due to our extensive networks we may even be aware of a contender or two

Confidential Approach

We are very well connected in the marketplace where your merger will take place. When the time is right, we can make discreet but credible approaches that simply would not be possible for a firm to attempt on its own

Merger Process

Every firm embarking on a merger can benefit from objective and honest advice. Our members are experts at helping you to identify, evaluate, negotiate and implement opportunities at every stage of the process

Strategy Days

We help managers put day-to-day issues to one side and focus on the bigger picture. An off-site, externally facilitated strategy day can be used to clarify thinking and set stretching but realistic goals

Post Merger Integration

Issues of stakeholder management should not be overlooked. There is a great deal of change in the air during a merger. Planning how to manage it can define the success or otherwise of the whole venture

 

Our Approach

Since its formation, ALFMA has had a clear vision to support law firms seeking growth through merger or acquisition. ALFMA members are leaders in their respective fields. They draw on significant experience and deep expertise to offer end-to-end guidance through the full M&A cycle. By sharing best-practice ALFMA members ensure that they are in the best position to offer leading edge advice in a fast-changing market.
Andrew Hedley, Chair

Core Values

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Ethical
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Credible
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Connected
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Professional

Membership

Ampersand logo

Ampersand Legal

Providing a professional and consultative service, Ampersand Legal work with firms of all sizes, locations and specialisms. Highly experienced in researching the market to select the right merger partner, they then use their insight and familiarity with deal structures to facilitate the process to a successful conclusion. As well as helping firms, they are a trusted adviser to the banks and insurers who operate in the legal market. Click here to visit their website

Armstrong Watson logo

Armstrong Watson

Armstrong Watson are Chartered Accountants with a team of 12 people who focus exclusively on law firms. Providing bespoke advice to lawyers on succession plans, M&A, all elements of financial strategy and various compliance (e.g. tax, audit) has resulted in AW being the only accountancy practice in the UK to be endorsed by The Law Society. Bi-monthly they circulate a comprehensive publication of firms looking to acquire, to merge or to sell. Click here to visit their website

Bennett Briegal logo

Bennett Briegal

Bennett Briegal is a specialist law firm advising the professional community, including other law firms, professional referrers such as accountants, and investors. They offer critical advice on structuring a merger to give it the best chance of success. They have extensive experience of drafting the legal documents needed to make mergers happen, such as Heads of Terms, Due Diligence, Disclosure and New Members Agreements. Click here to visit their website

Charles Layfield

Charles has operated in the UK legal services sector for 25+ years, having held Executive and Board roles for 15+ years across a diverse range of firms. Since 2017 Charles has focused on undertaking hands on Chair/NED/investor roles and supports the c-suite team to lead and strategically grow their firms, commonly through M&A, typically leading/supporting on 3-5 transactions a year. Charles has extensive experience of working directly with owners, as well as the private equity/investor community. For further details see here

Hazlewoods

As Chartered Accountants, Hazlewoods provide a wide range of accountancy, tax, audit and business advice to individuals and businesses nationally and internationally. The Legal Team of 27 sector specialists work with law firms all day every day. The team looks after over 135 law firms on a retained basis and help firms to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the increase in practice mergers and acquisitions. Click here to visit their website

Hedley Consulting logo

Hedley Consulting

Hedley Consulting is recognised as a leading boutique strategy consultancy within the legal sector. With clients ranging from global firms to major regional players, it brings deep experience of advising on the merger or acquisition option and working with firms to identify, evaluate, negotiate and implement opportunities. Other services include strategy group direction, partner retreat speaking, workshop delivery and board facilitation. Click here to visit the website or here to access Andrew Hedley’s profile

Howard Hackney LLP logo

Howard Hackney LLP

Howard Hackney LLP is a new generation advisory only practice of Chartered Accountants. The firm brings a wealth of experience both advising and being involved in actual mergers as a principal. They advise on structuring from a tax and commercial perspective and pride themselves on seeing the deal from the other side’s perspective. When it comes to understanding the market they have ‘been there, done that and got the t-shirt’. Click here to visit their website

McCarthy Denning

Tina Williams is one of the UK’s leading partnership experts and, at McCarthy Denning, heads one of the most experienced offerings advising professional practices. She is also a hugely experienced corporate lawyer, specialising in mergers and acquisitions. Tina advises law firms  on mergers and other types of combinations and affiliations. She has for many years been ranked in the top tier for partnership work in both Chambers and Legal 500. McCarthy Denning advise on the entire range of issues faced by professional firms. Click here to visit their website.

Ortus Group

Ortus Group has worked with law firms for 20 years and completed hundreds of partner headhunt projects and over 60 mergers. The team works on projects of all sizes across the UK and their dedicated research function makes sure they connect you with the best opportunities, rather than just those known to be on the market. They act as confidential advisors to both boards and individuals. Click here to visit their website

Viv Williams Consulting Ltd

Viv Williams Consulting Ltd

Viv Williams Consulting Ltd offers strategic support for law firms, providing clear business advice and fresh options to law firm owners facing tough strategic decisions. Whether that’s a guiding hand to help develop a firm’s strategy or just support with a particular aspect of it, they can put together a bespoke service to suit an individual business. Being a law firm owner can be a very lonely place and sometimes all that’s needed is to talk through thoughts and ideas with someone else. Click here to visit their website

Testimonials

Having faced a number of approaches from law firms and companies over the years to acquire Pryers, it was important for us to wait patiently for the right opportunity with the right company to forge ahead with. Pure Legal undoubtedly presents that opportunity and I am delighted to get this deal over the line and I look forward to working with Phil and his team.

Thanks to our Accountant, Andy Poole and his team from Armstrong Watson, for their diligent work. We were genuinely impressed with their advice and representation.

Ian Pryer

Managing Partner of Pryers LLP

When I decided to sell my practice I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Andrew Roberts of Ampersand Legal. Andrew conducted a rigorous research process but, more importantly I think, then managed the sale process adeptly to a conclusion where both I and the buyer were pleased with the result. He was always available with wise counsel and I am sure that I would not have got to the same position without his help. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to other managing partners.

Clive Matthews

Former MD of FMW Law Ltd

Case Studies

Work in progress

Unravelling the reasons behind failed law firm merger discussions

In the legal industry, mergers and acquisitions have become a prevalent strategy for law firms seeking to enhance their competitive edge, expand their client base, and bolster their expertise. However, […]

How changes to financial reporting could impact your business valuation

Proposed changes to accounting standards could significantly impact the technical valuation of your business. FRS 102 is the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, […]

How to value a law firm

How to value a law firm

Whether you are selling your law firm due to retirement or buying a firm to allow you to expand and grow, valuation is often the key point for consideration and […]

See all our Case Studies

Contact Form

Please contact us for a confidential discussion about your options