Fletchers Group has agreed to acquire the Serious Injury practice of national law firm Shoosmiths, in a deal that significantly expands the Group’s presence across the Midlands and South East.
Around 80 colleagues, including eight partners, will join Fletchers – the serious injury and clinical negligence law firm. The move adds new bases in Birmingham, Northampton and the Thames Valley, complementing the Group’s existing hubs in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bolton, Southport, Newcastle, and Cambridge.
Fletchers Group CEO Peter Haden said: “Shoosmiths’ Serious Injury practice has a strong track record in complex, high-value cases, including major birth injury and catastrophic injury claims. I am confident that they will make a major contribution to our business – not just in case volumes but through their deep experience of this area of the law.”
The deal also includes a substantial number of Court of Protection clients, further strengthening Fletchers’ specialist legal services in this complex area.
Shoosmiths’ Serious Injury lead partner Phil Barnes will lead the new business in the Midlands and South and oversee the integration over the next six months.
He said: “From the outset, Fletchers stood out as a firm that not only shares our values but has the infrastructure, appetite and vision to take our practice to the next level. I’m incredibly proud of everything our team has achieved at Shoosmiths, and I’m excited about what we’ll be able to do together as part of Fletchers in the years ahead.”
Shoosmiths’ CEO David Jackson added: “The serious injury market has evolved quickly, and continued success in this area demands substantial, specialist investment. After extensive discussions, we’re confident that Fletchers offers the right home for our people and our clients, with the focus, scale, and ambition needed to support long-term growth.”
The deal brings Fletchers’ total legal headcount to over 800.
