UK private equity firm August Equity has invested in Midlands-based legal services provider Higgs, the latest UK law firm to attract private equity investment.
The deal will provide capital to Higgs to develop its existing workforce and recruit high-calibre talent, as well as pursue M&A opportunities to expand its regional and national presence and grow its service lines. Earlier this year Higgs acquired Dudley-based firm M.R. Timms, adding to its acquisition of Lewis Onions in 2024, bolstering the firm’s regional coverage.
Terms of the August Equity deal were not disclosed.
Nick Taylor, managing partner of Higgs, said: “We are delighted to partner with August Equity as we embark on a dynamic new phase of growth. Their backing enables us to expand our services, add resources, embrace innovation and enter new regions in a rapidly changing legal market – all the while remaining dedicated to delivering legal excellence for our clients.
“With August’s support, we will build on our long-standing reputation, invest in our people and sustain the core values that have defined our firm’s success for 150 years.”
Brierley Hill, West Midlands-headquartered Higgs has more than 250 employees and specialises in business services, commercial services, dispute resolution, property law and services for individuals, including family law, personal injury claims, wills and more.
Kishan Chotai and Katie Beckingham, who led the transaction for August, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Nick and the team to support them on the next phase of their journey. We have invested significant time identifying the right platform in the legal space to invest in and have been consistently impressed by the Higgs team and their ambition for the business. We are looking forward to succeeding together through this exciting upcoming period of growth and consolidation in the market.”
August Equity is a specialist lower mid-market private equity investor. Last month it exited its investment in professional services firm AAB to Goldman Sachs Alternatives, having tripled in size under August’s ownership.
August’s investment in Higgs follows other deals in the sector to help UK firms grow their footprint nationwide. Back in May, Blixt-backed Lawfront acquired Trethowans, enabling it to expand into South West England.
A report in February by law firm M&A broker Acquira Professional Services found that private equity investment in the UK legal sector hit a record high £534m in 2024, fuelled by significant capital reserves and the country’s liberalised legal market.
Earlier this week, Jonathan Watmough, former managing partner of RPC, and legal private equity executive Adil Taha announced the launch of Taha & Co, billed as “an advisory business targeting UK law firms and private equity firms seeking seamless investment transactions”.
The launch comes hard on the heels of the unveiling in May of consultancy Dejonghe & Morley, which was set up by former legacy Allen & Overy senior partners Wim Dejonghe and David Morley to advise on private equity investment in law firms.
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