Co-op beefs up legal services business
THE Manchester-based Co-Operative Group has acquired Collective Legal Services Group, headquartered in Yorkshire.
The wills, trust and probate specialist which operates nationally, is set to provide the Co-Op’s members with accessible legal advice and support, the Group said.
Collective Legal Soltions, based in Shieffield, boasts more than 100 staff including associates.
The Co-op says the deal will improve its offering in the wills, probate and funer planning markets and offer customers clients a face-to-face service.
Britol-based Co-operative Legal Services is part of the Co-Op’s Consumer Services Division, which also has the Funeralcare and General Insurance Business.
Consumer Services chief executive Rod Bulmer said: “This acquisition is a perfect fit for the Co-op, supporting our purpose of championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities.
“Our consumer services businesses – General Insurance, Funeralcare and Legal services – already serve millions of our members in communities across the UK and Collective Legal Solutions will further support that work.
“This acquisition also gives us the opportunity to consider how this face-to-face channel can support other services provided by our consumer services’ businesses and the wider Co-op Group.”
Matt Howells, managing director of The Co-operative Legal Services, added: “This is an exciting time for the Co-op Group and puts the consumer legal services business at the heart of the rebuild.
“We already have a leading wills and probate business, but in an area which consumers can sometimes find complex, this acquisition strengthens what we can offer our members by enabling us to also provide face to face services, in their local communities.”
The acquisition comes as the mutual continues to defend itself at an employment tribunal in Manchester over claims it sacked its former head of procurement, Kath Harmeston, for whistleblowing. Group chief executive Richard Pennycook is due to give evidence this week. Ms Harmeston is claiming £5m for unfair dismissal.
