The acquisition brings the long-established South Essex law firm’s 35-strong Leigh-on-Sea team into FJG, strengthening its presence across Essex and giving it a significant base in Southend, the largest city in Essex.
The move also creates new career and development opportunities for colleagues across both firms and marks an expansion of FJG’s services, adding a dedicated Court of Protection and Vulnerable Client team – a distinctive new specialism in supporting clients with complex needs.
Doug Field OBE, Managing Partner of FJG, said: “Giles Wilson is exactly the kind of business we want to join us: successful, respected, deeply connected to its communities and, above all, full of talented people.
“As part of Lawfront, we have the backing, technology and ambition to drive significant growth, while retaining the local relationships and personal service that make the best regional firms special.”
Melinda Giles from Giles Wilson added: “Our firm has strong local roots and in FJG we found a firm that shares our commitment to clients, our belief in our people and our ambition for the future.
“This gives us the best of both worlds: we can retain the relationships, local knowledge and personal approach that have made Giles Wilson successful, while giving our clients access to greater resources and expertise and our colleagues more opportunities to develop their careers.”
Guidance and advice
The M&A team at Affinia, the UK’s largest purpose-built, purpose-led accountancy and advisory firm, were pleased to advise the directors and Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) of Giles Wilson on the transaction before leading negotiations with FJG and Lawfront and providing project management.
With little established precedent for the sale of an EOT-owned trading business, the deal involved transaction mechanics not previously encountered, and Affinia experts worked with Giles Wilson to address the ownership, governance, tax and accounting requirements through to completion.
Adam Croft, Head of Deal Advisory at Affinia, said: “Sales of EOT-owned businesses remain rare, and there was little established precedent to follow. The Trust had to be satisfied that the transaction was in employees’ wider interests, not simply that the financial terms were acceptable.
“We advised the directors on valuation and their options, negotiated with FJG and Lawfront, and managed the process through due diligence. Affinia’s tax and accounting teams also advised the business and the Trust, which allowed us to deal with the unusual mechanics of the transaction as they arose.
“Throughout the process, it was clear that there was a genuine alignment between the ambitions of Fisher Jones Greenwood and the culture that has made Giles Wilson such a successful firm.”
Giles Wilson’s roots in Leigh-on-Sea date back to 1950, when John Wilson established the practice. He partnered with Tony Giles in 1967, before Melinda Giles and her brother Philip acquired the firm in 1997. And in 2022, Giles Wilson became employee-owned through an EOT.
Reflecting on Affinia’s role in the transaction, Melinda Giles said: “We found Adam, Aneka and Paul’s hands-on approach invaluable during the process, with them involved from the outset working with us throughout every stage until signing. They were always on hand to take calls to talk through any issues that arose, guiding us expertly through every stage and attending calls and meetings with Affinia, the buyer and their lawyers to ensure we got the best possible outcome. We found their experience and support invaluable in getting the deal across the line.”
Giles Wilson has become part of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, which offers a comprehensive range of legal services to corporate, public and private clients from its offices in Essex, Suffolk and central London. Since 2021, it has been a member of Lawfront, which backs regional firms to achieve their growth ambitions through investments in people, technology, cross-group collaboration and further local acquisitions, with the support of a highly experienced central team.
Axel Koelsch, Chief Operating Officer of Lawfront, said: “The deal strengthens FJG’s position along the whole Essex corridor and supports the ambition to be a leading firm across the East Anglian legal market. That’s the pattern that Lawfront wants to repeat – backing firms and management teams that are already strong, and giving them the technology, capital and operational support to go further.”
Image: Doug Field OBE Managing Partner of FJG with Adam Croft Head of Deal Advisory at Affinia and Melinda Giles Partner and Director at Giles Wilson Law
