Express: Data breach claims acquired
Top personal injury firm Express Solicitors has expanded out of Manchester with an acquisition that also takes it into the data breach market.
It has acquired Liverpool-based HNK Solicitors, which handles civil liberties, data breach, cyber-crime and criminal injury claims.
HNK partners Brian Higgs and Craig Newton will join Express as part of the deal along with 23 other members of staff who will continue to work out of their Liverpool office.
Approximately 11,500 cases will be transferred over including several data breach cases with multi-party actions.
Express chief executive James Maxey said: “We’re thrilled that HNK is our first acquisition of 2025. We’re really looking forward to building on all our recent success and growth with them on board.”
Mr Newton added that the two firms shared the “same ultimate aim: to get people the recognition and compensation they deserve”.
Express Solicitors aims to become the largest personal injury firm in the country and the group now has nearly 800 staff, having grown both organically and through acquisition, with deals in recent years for Michael W Halsall Solicitors, Amelans and Jefferies Solicitors.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire-based law firm Ison Harrison acquired personal injury practice Armstrong Luty, giving it a presence in Skipton, the 21st office in the employee-owned firm’s network.
Ison Harrison, which has more than 350 staff, said more branches would be announced “imminently” as part of its expansion strategy.
Managing partner Jonathan Wearing said the deal “significantly strengthens and broadens our personal injury offering”.
He added: “The outstanding local reputation and respected standing of Nick Luty and Andrew Armstrong within the legal community were key drivers behind our decision to pursue this acquisition.”
Mr Armstrong said: “Becoming part of Ison Harrison marks an exciting new chapter for us. Their strong reputation and widespread presence across the region will enable us to offer even greater support to our clients.”
In the world of shipping, London firm Tatham & Co has merged with Kent practice Sea Green Law to create a firm under the Tatham name with five partners – including Sea Green founder Ted Graham – and 20 fee-earners.
Finally, Irwin Mitchell has sold IM Asset Management (IMAM), which provides financial planning and investment advice to personal injury clients, to financial adviser Shackleton, subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority. The deal includes TWP Wealth, the high net-worth financial planning company acquired by IMAM in 2022.
Together, IMAM and TWP have 20 advisers and 68 other staff, around 1,600 clients and £1.4bn of funds under management. IMAM’s most recent annual results showed a profit before tax of £3.4m on a turnover of just under £10m, while TWP made a small loss on a £1m turnover.
Paul Feeney, CEO of Shackleton, said the deal both meant a new division for personal injury and Court of Protection work, and a stronger presence in Yorkshire and the North West – IMAM is based in Sheffield, TWP in Cheshire.
Craig Marshall, Irwin Mitchell’s group CEO, said: “This deal aligns with our strategy to simplify our structure and allows us to invest further to grow our core offer as a full-service law firm…
“The move also presents a great opportunity for IMAM to build on their strong foundations, having grown over the last 20 years to be a resilient and sustainable business, with a strong client ethos and culture.
“The knowledge, expertise and working relationships we have developed over the years will be important to us and our clients, and where appropriate, following the completion of the deal, we look forward to working with Shackleton in future.”
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