Private equity firm Uplift Investors has expanded its investment strategy in the legal sector through a new management services organisation (MSO) partnership with Arkansas-based personal injury firm Rainwater, Holt & Sexton.
The Darien, Connecticut-based investor said the agreement marks its sixth transaction involving the provision of external capital and operational support to a law firm through an MSO structure.
Under the arrangement, Uplift’s Orion Legal MSO will provide Rainwater, Holt & Sexton with a range of non-legal services, including administration, finance, marketing and technology. The law firm itself will remain owned by its attorneys.
The transaction highlights the growing use of MSOs by private equity investors seeking exposure to the legal services market while navigating restrictions on non-lawyer ownership of US law firms.
As part of the partnership, Rainwater, Holt & Sexton name partners Mike Rainwater and Bob Sexton will join Orion Legal’s national advisory board.
Orion Legal was launched by Uplift in January as part of the firm’s broader push into the legal sector. The platform already supports personal injury practices in Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas.
