Merger Services
Our Process
Ampersand Legal has the experience and expertise to maximise your rewards from a merger, whilst minimising the risk. We are an expert service for all aspects of law firm mergers: advice on the options available, management of the merger process, facilitation of the deal and, crucially, post merger integration.
Mergers take time and effort, but they also require a wide range of commercial skills. Ampersand Legal provides these skills in a structured fashion. This ensures the merger follows a logical sequence of events. Applying our expertise and our proven methodology takes the uncertainty out of merger activity, offering you the highest assurance of success.
At Ampersand Legal, we divide the process into five simple stages.
Detailed Research
Research is the bedrock of our service and is detailed and accurate without being fussy. We don’t copy endless information from the web and re-package it. Our experience means that we know what is relevant and how it should be best presented.
First we will talk to you about the firms you like, those you do not, and anyone you have explored merging with before. Then we produce a long list of potential suitors, without approaching any target firms, within an agreed timescale. We will supply details of specialism(s), key contact career histories, finances and market perception.
We use this to analyse the target’s future direction and the likelihood of a successful approach.
Confidential Approaches & Pitches
This is where Ampersand Legal’s experience is of greatest value. We are successful in meeting 90% of firms we approach.
Of course, one managing partner can call another to suggest merger discussions, but this can be construed as aggressive. The target firm will almost certainly leap to conclusions about the approaching firm.
Ampersand Legal, by contrast, will first agree a short list of targets with you. Then we contact the short listed firms to outline the merger proposal, but without mentioning your identity. We arrange to meet the target firm to present the benefits of the potential merger. We still do not disclose your identity, nor do we until the target firm has signed a non-disclosure agreement. We generally meet around 6-8 firms before making our suggestions on which targets should be pursued. Those not pursued are given appropriate feedback to ensure a positive feeling about the process.
Facilitation of the Process
Momentum is vital to the merger process. Neither side should feel railroaded, but if meetings get cancelled, documents do not appear as promised and delays creep in, the natural momentum is lost and the eventual benefits begin to fade from view. The process then fails.
Unlike other consultancies, Ampersand Legal works hard in the background to facilitate the meetings and information exchanges because it is our role to ensure that none of the above occur. Of course, this also allows us to develop our relationship with the key individuals, become trusted advisors and so be able to spot and deal with any potential issues, long before they are large enough to cause problems.
Merger Integration
Congratulations, the firms have merged – now what?
The two managing partners are left with a mountain of potential issues such as client messaging, IT, premises, redundancies and team integration.
Ampersand Legal calls this ‘Phase Zero’: we see our involvement at this point as fundamental unlike some consultancies. We have experienced all of the above issues and will use their experience to make your merger work
Post-event Business Case Tracking
In the heat of the transaction it is easy to lose sight of why the merger made sense all those months ago.
Once the dust has settled, we feel it is our role to work with the merged firm for as long as is needed, to ensure what was promised actually happens and that the benefits we all set out to achieve are delivered. We work with experts in change management, executive coaching, training, HR, marketing, finance, Lexcel or risk management and we are on hand to keep the merger on track and make it all worth the effort.
What our clients say
My firm was approached by Andrew Roberts of Ampersand Legal on behalf of a larger regional firm and I am certain that his knowledge, advice and commercial good sense helped both parties overcome the inevitable difficulties and conclude a successful merger
Managing Partner, Regional Firm
Andrew Roberts worked with us when we transferred our niche healthcare law practice to another law firm. Apart from his negotiation skills, there were two things that stood out in his professional service. First, he took a great deal of care and time to understand the detail of our business so that there were no unplanned issues along the way and second was the fact that he was always available to talk about the proposed arrangements.
Andrew Lockhart, Lockharts and VWV.
When I decided to sell my practice I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Andrew Roberts of Ampersand Legal. Andrew conducted a rigorous research process but, more importantly I think, then managed the sale process adeptly to a conclusion where both and I the buyer were pleased with the result. He was always available with wise counsel and I am sure that I would not have got to the same position without his help. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to other managing partners.
Clive Matthews, FMW Law
We have used Ampersand Legal (Andrew Roberts) to assist in the identification and approach to possible acquisition targets and have found working with them helpful in that they listen to our key business objectives and seek to locate and match possible target firms to those for us, ensuring that any introduction is then well prepared.
Managing Partner, Regional firm looking to open in London
“Having retained Andrew Roberts to try to find a London merger partner for us, Andrew provided an excellent service, including introducing us to the firm with whom we merged. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Andrew as our growth in London continues.
Robert Dillarstone, Greenwoods LLP
We would like to thank you Andrew, very much for all your excellent support over the past few years. We could not have reached this stage without your motivation and effort on our behalf.
Mark Carlisle, Beviss & Beckingsale LLP
Nobody said this would be easy, and how right they were! Any process that brings together any number of strong willed – dare I say opinionated – lawyers is bound to have its moments of pain, but having the benefit of Andrew by our side for the journey has been both reassuring, and calming.
His level of experience of mergers in the legal sector is second to none, and that experience allows him to see things through the eyes of both parties, ultimately facilitating the bringing together of two into one. I have no hesitation in recommending his services if you are venturing into the world of the merger; without someone as experienced as Andrew by your side, the waters will become choppy
Nigel Rowley, Mackrell Solicitors