Law firm expands with Midlands acquisition

Walsall-based CMHT Solicitors has been acquired by Star Legal in a merger which marks the Bristol firm’s expansion into the West Midlands.

Due to complete on 1 May 2019, the merger will add to Star’s 17 other offices.

Last year CMHT brought in Barnt Green business advisory company Ortus Group to get advice on future planning. Ortus advised on the merger with Star Legal after looking at several options.

Star has a wide footprint across the South West and said it has “long had ambitions” to move into the West Midlands. The company said it was “impressed by the quality and reputation” of CMHT. They were attracted in particular by the firm’s care and mental health practices, as well as its private client offering from its Aldridge base.

Philip Bellshaw of CMHT commented, “As a three partner provincial solicitors’ practice we have recognised for a while the potential benefits of being part of a larger organisation to ease the ever-increasing burden of regulatory compliance, offer greater stability to our staff, an opportunity for succession planning, and – most importantly – to ensure we can continue to deliver a first-class service to our clients.

“We believe all of these objectives will be enabled by us joining the Star Legal group, and we look forward to our future with them with confidence and a sense of renewed purpose. Dealing with Ortus Group, who brokered the deal, has been a pleasure from start to finish, as their wealth of knowledge of such transactions has been a constant guide and reassurance throughout the process.”

Colin White, managing director of Ortus Group commented: “Succession planning is all too often left until the last minute but because the partners of CMHT were on the ball and planning for their succession well before they need to retire, we were able to get a much better deal for them than would have otherwise been possible.

“Rather than settling for the first option to come their way like many firms do, we were able to generate interest from several quite different parties which meant the partners of CMHT ultimately had much more confidence that Star Legal was the right deal for their staff, their clients and themselves.”

Joint managing partner of Star Legal, Ian Foster said, “We are delighted that the lawyers and staff of CMHT are joining Star Legal. I am sure they will become a valuable addition to the Star Legal practice in the Midlands and will bring other key skills including their strong care and mental health practices.

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close