News & Views

O’Connors advises Pure Legal on Pryers Solicitors acquisition

Pure Legal Limited has acquired York-based Pryers Solicitors LLP.

Commenting on the deal, Pure Legal’s chief executive Phil Hodgkinson said: “This is our first major acquisition and forms an integral part of our future strategy. Clinical negligence and product liability are both areas of work in which we wish to expand and Pryers is considered to be one of the top firms in the UK specialising in these areas of work. It is important when creating an ABS that you learn from mistakes made by others. Our strategy is to acquire and collaborate with firms who have the necessary skill sets and experience in areas of legal work we wish to expand into and to couple that with organic growth as we deliver our initial 5-year plan.

“Pryers is an extremely well run and well respected business, with an outstanding management team and staff. We are excited to have been able to both acquire and now work with such a well-respected and efficient business and we will now put in place our growth plans with immediate effect. We have developed a 5 year business plan, which takes into account the financial effect that fixed fees will have on income in clinical negligence and, in our opinion, we are still left with an incredibly profitable business; we see these changes as an opportunity, not a hindrance.

“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Wilson Henry LLP, O’Connors LLP and ZebraLC Limited for their hard work and diligence in bringing this deal together.”

Pryers’ managing partner Ian Pryer said: “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. We will continue to build and expand our key areas of clinical negligence and product liability under the stewardship of Pure Legal and, in spite of the Government’s attempts to limit the rights of injured people to claim redress, we will continue to fight on behalf of claimants under the Pure banner as we have done for many years.”