Law firm Knights buys BrookStreet des Roches LLP

Published by

Nicky Godding

Knights, One of the UK’s fastest-growing legal and professional services businesses, has revealed its fourth acquisition since listing on the London Stock Exchange last year, with the exchange of contracts to acquire BrookStreet, one of the leading independent law firms in Oxfordshire.

The business says this acquisition will be a transformational addition to the Knights Oxford office, in line with the Group’s strategy to accelerate organic growth through acquisition.

Knights' strategy is to build a nationwide, full service legal and professional services business focused on attractive markets outside of London.

Founded in 1994, BrookStreet has grown to become one of the leading commercial law firms in the region with a particularly strong reputation nationally for its real estate practice, which works with high-quality blue chip clients. Its 45 fee earners will be integrated into Knights’ existing Oxford office, taking the total fee earners in Oxford to over 140. The total number of fee earners across Knights’ eight offices will be in excess of 530.

For the financial year ended 31 March 2018, BrookStreet delivered revenue of £7.2 million.

Knights will purchase BrookStreet from its existing equity partners for a total of up to £10 million. Completion is expected to take place on 1 April 2019.

David Beech, CEO of Knights, said: “We are delighted to build on our strong momentum following the three acquisitions we have made since listing in June 2018, as we continue to enhance our geographical presence and expertise through the selective acquisition of high calibre firms.

“With the acquisition of BrookStreet, we add to that momentum by welcoming one of the most highly regarded teams outside London, with a particular strength in real estate. Its combination with our existing team will position us as one of the leading legal and professional services firms in the region - a transformational step for Oxford.”

Rosie Gibb of BrookStreet, added: “We bring particular expertise in the real estate sector to the already strong team in Oxford and we look forward to being part of a larger Group with the culture, robust financial position and ambition to support our continued growth."

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.