Law firm opens new office after £30m PE investment
FBC Manby Bowdler has opened a new office in Knowle, Solihull, after securing a £30m private equity investment.
The Wolverhampton-based law firm announced the funding injection from Horizon Capital last month, which is fueling the expansion of the 200-strong firm.
It plans to double its size over the next 18 months and create 20 jobs.
FBC Manby Bowdler chief executive Neil Lloyd said: “We’ll have three of our senior solicitors based at Knowle, including one of our partners Sara Simson, who is an expert in all issues associated with inheritance tax.
“The Budget has certainly left a lot of people considering their options and Sara is perfectly placed to meet some of the increased demand for the highest-quality legal advice there is bound to be.
“The opening of the new office is a hugely exciting move for us and something which complements our existing network of offices across the whole of the region. We’re really looking forward to welcoming clients old and new to our new home.”
Sara Simson currently heads up the Wills, Probate and Lifetime Planning Team in the Redditch office and deals with a range of matters including powers of attorney, probate and the Court of Protection. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners, the international professional body for advisers specialising in inheritance and succession planning.
She is joined at Knowle by fellow partners Laura Vernon and Gareth Ruddock.
Laura, who was ranked as Up and Coming in the prestigious Chambers Rankings 2025, specialises in property litigation, including dilapidation claims, development disputes, property-related insolvency, rights of light, landlord and tenant issues including rent arrears, and much more.
Gareth deals with all aspects of commercial litigation, especially property disputes. He specialises in insolvency law, including bankruptcy, winding up petitions and debt recovery. He is recognised as a key lawyer in the leading Legal 500 Directory for 2025.
