Legal group expands its portfolio with more acquisitions

MAPD has acquired two North West legal firms in Bromleys, the Ashton-under-Lyne legal practice and Cumbria’s Thomson Hayton Winkley (THW). No financial details have been revealed.

Wirral-based MAPD – Making A Positive Difference – has been acquiring local law firms and has also bought THW’s sister brand the Rural Law Practice, one of the largest and best-known law firms in the Lake District, serving large commercial clients through to smaller rural, farming and family businesses, with tourism and hospitality being a particular speciality.

It also offers private client, family and property law advice. The firm is led by Simon Theobald and John Cooke.

Bromleys, which will now be led by managing partner, Paul Westwell, will maintain its name and brand, with the ownership being transferred to MAPD, but with Westwell will retain an interest.

The firm has been located in Ashton-under-Lyne for more than 180 years and its 58-strong team serves commercial and individual clients across Tameside and Manchester.

It has previously been recognised as small firm of the year at the Manchester Legal Awards. It has the largest childcare team in Greater Manchester and says it is particularly well known for its Court of Protection work.

Paul Westwell said: “I started and have developed my career at Bromleys and make no secret of the fact that it plays a massive part in my life.

“That’s why it was so important to choose the right partner to help us unleash the potential that Bromleys has.

“That partner is MAPD. We are now part of a group that shares our values and ambitions for the future.

“This is an exciting time for our staff and offers us the opportunity to grow together whilst supporting our existing and new clients.”

MAPD owners, Brian Cullen and Joanna Kingston-Davies, CEO and COO, respectively, say they are committed to investing in local law firms and helping them to grow.

They acquired Bermans, the Liverpool and Manchester commercial law firm in 2022, joining North West law firms Jackson Lees, Broudie Jackson Canter, and Stoke-based Myers & Co in the group.

Following the addition of THW and Bromleys, MAPD, which is backed by Shard Credit Partners, will have a turnover of around £30m.

Co-founders Cullen and Kingston-Davies are currently in talks with several other firms about similar deals as they look to expand the group nationwide.

THW team: Fiona Ward, Simon Theobald, Brian Cullen, John Cooke, Joanna Kingston-Davies, Stephen Greenwood

Joanna Kingston-Davies says: “MAPD is passionate about acquiring great law firms and supporting their growth. It was immediately obvious when meeting Simon and John at Thomson Hayton Winkley and Paul at Bromleys that they had many of the credentials we look for in a law firm, namely: a loyal and diverse client base, strong roots in their local community and a keen commitment to their people. Brian and I are thrilled to welcome them to the MAPD family, and we very much look forward to making a positive difference in their local communities.”

John Cooke, director at Thomson Hayton Winkley, said: “Becoming part of a group whose name sums up what we all feel and do on a daily basis is the perfect home for us. It gives us the fuel to protect and grow an already thriving business in our beautiful corner of the world. This is a good day for our staff and for our local community, who can be assured of our continued commitment to developing and supporting them over the coming years, which we will now do with renewed vigour.”

The acquisitions were funded by Shard Credit Partners.

Advising the MAPD Group were James Curtis and Connor Monaghan of DSW, who led the acquisition of Bromleys and Carl Swansbury, Tom Cosby and Sam Shield of RG Corporate Finance, who led the acquisition of THW. Legal advice on both transactions came from Natasha Lackner and Mollie Williams of O’Connors. Financial and Tax due diligence on both acquisitions was carried out by Andrew Cameron, Grahame Maughan and Jonathan Delaney of RG Corporate Finance.

Advising Bromleys was Andy Poole Corporate Finance Partner at Armstrong Watson and legal advice came from Nicholas Fielden and Craig Whittingham of FMGS.