Buy-and-build legal group seals second law firm acquisition in a month

A privately backed consolidator that is courting independent practices with unresolved ownership questions has completed its second law firm acquisition in the space of a month.

Oak Legal Group has taken on Perrin Myddelton, a 23-strong firm based in Harpenden, following its purchase of Oxford practice Hedges Law in July. A third firm is understood to be joining the group within roughly six weeks.

A trading name rather than a separate regulated entity

Perrin Myddelton will keep its name and its Harpenden base, but the structure differs from the group''s first deal. Rather than sitting inside Oak as a standalone regulated business — what the group calls an "acorn" — it will operate as a trading name of Hedges Law.

The firm began life as Perrins Solicitors, founded by Fred Perrin in 1997, and combined with Robin Myddelton''s practice in 2014. Its work spans social housing, commercial property, development, company commercial, residential conveyancing and dispute resolution.

Who is behind Oak

Oak is funded by CKM3, the private office of Colm McGinley. A surveyor by background, McGinley launched recruitment business MCG Group in 2008 — now trading as Auxo Talent — grew it to around 350 staff and stepped back in 2023, though CKM3 retains a stake.

He runs Oak with Hedges directors Nicola Poole and Rebecca Kashti. The three each hold a quarter of the group, with a further investor holding the remaining share.

The pitch: an alternative to identity-stripping consolidation

Poole said last month that Oak was targeting firms in "high-end locations with strong client relationships and high-performing teams", and described Perrin Myddelton as "exactly the kind of firm Oak was created to support".

She added: "Firms like this should not have to choose between standing still, selling to a model that removes their identity, or carrying the growing burden of modern law firm ownership alone. Oak gives them another path — protecting what makes them special while investing in the systems, technology, training, management and infrastructure they need for the future."

That framing speaks directly to the practice management pressure now bearing down on smaller independents: rising compliance and cyber obligations, ageing case management estates, and equity partners approaching retirement with no obvious internal buyer.

Perrin said the firm had been looking for "a home that respected the firm''s heritage while giving the team the support, systems and investment needed for the future", calling the deal "the right next step for the business, our clients and our colleagues".

McGinley described Oak as "a long-term investment in great law firms and great people", arguing that "there is a powerful alternative to consolidation that strips away local identity".

Stowe expands again in Australia

Elsewhere in the consolidation market, Stowe Family Law has made its second Australian purchase, acquiring Emera Family Law, a Victoria-based specialist with offices in Melbourne and Sunshine.

Stowe was itself bought in late 2024 by Investcorp, the Bahrain-headquartered alternative investment manager. It entered Australia in January through an investment in Unified Lawyers, a 60-staff family practice operating in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland.

Executive chairman Ken Fowlie said Australia was prioritised for its mature legal system, regulatory alignment with the UK, service demand and cultural fit. "Together, we see a real opportunity to strengthen access to a compassionate model for family law in Victoria, while continuing to invest in the people, systems and technology that help deliver an outstanding client experience," he said.