Acquisition sees commercial law firm expand into private equity market

Haddletons, a business advisory and commercial law firm, has acquired Leeds-based IP Assist from FTSE250 Company IP Group in a move that will see the firm expand its services to support spin-out and growth companies.

IP Assist currently provides technology and life sciences portfolio companies with company secretarial and administrative services.

James Haddleton, CEO of Haddletons, said the acquisition would facilitate his firm’s plans for a fixed price support service for growth businesses that includes a company secretary function, finance, HR, and other back office functions. It will also allow legal advice to be provided to those businesses as part of that service.

IP Assist will continue to provide company secretarial services to IP Group subsidiary companies.

Haddleton said: “We are delighted to welcome the IP Assist team and introduce our legal team to growth companies. The legal team is almost entirely made up of senior former in-house lawyers, many with Investment, Tech and Life Science backgrounds, who have a deep understanding of the commercial needs of growth businesses with high value IP, both from a legal and compliance perspective.

“The launch of a back-office support service for a set monthly fee is therefore a natural step for us, particularly as we already operate fixed fees for our legal services.”

He said the range of services already offered by IP Assist would continue with further investment planned to keep directors up to date on risk and governance topics and to improve IP and contract management.

He added: “The emphasis will be on giving investors what they want by providing a streamlined outsourced back office function that improves the accounts process, completes a full commercial risk assessment and adds value with access to everyday legal and compliance services as well as expert counsel for more specialist matters when required.”