Private equity firm NorthEdge Capita has invested GBP15 million into Roberts Jackson, a Cheshire-based industrial disease law firm.
Founded in 2009, the Wilmslow practice provides legal services in the highly complex field of occupational disease litigation, and acts for claimants who have developed diseases as a result of their employer`s negligence. The firm has grown from two to more than 200 people in five years.
The investment from NorthEdge Capital will facilitate the acceleration of growth and development of the practice and open up new opportunities in the legal services sector.
Nick Townend joins the board as finance director and Paul Hewitt as chairman alongside founders Karen Jackson, CEO, and Oliver Jackson, strategy director. Gladys Swaim-Rutter and Lorna Vanderkamp have been promoted to directors as part of the deal and are equity shareholders.
Grant Berry, managing partner at NorthEdge Capital, director Jon Pickering, and investment manager Phil Frame led the deal. Berry and Pickering join the board as non-executive directors whilst Frame joins as an observer.
Jackson says: “This is a very exciting time for the business and we are delighted to welcome NorthEdge Capital on board as an investor. The introduction of Alternative Business Structures through The Legal Services Act 2007 has created interesting opportunities for firms like ours.
“The investment from NorthEdge will allow us to accelerate the growth of the business, capitalise on new opportunities within the market and hopefully provide many more clients with the very best advice.”
Pickering says: “Roberts Jackson is a hugely successful business and we look forward to working alongside Karen, Oliver and the management team as the business continues to grow and develop. We are in no doubt that the coming months will see Roberts Jackson further increase its market share and continue to deliver unmatched specialist expertise.”
The deal is the seventh transaction completed by NorthEdge Capital from its maiden fund, which closed at GBP225million in March 2013, and represents over GBP100million of investment into the Northern business community during the last 18 months.
Deloitte provided corporate finance advice to Roberts Jackson, led by partner Paul Lupton with support from assistant director Iain Marlow.
