Strategic Regional Expansion
Knights Group Expands Regional Footprint With £27 Million Moore Barlow Acquisition
Key Points
Knights has also completed the acquisition of THP Solicitors earlier this week, signaling rapid expansion with multiple regional deals in a short period.
The Moore Barlow deal will cover about 70% of Moore Barlow's revenue, amounting to roughly £30m in the 2026 financial year.
Knights will pay £18m on completion, with a further £9m payable in equal installments over the next three years, funded from Knights' existing banking facilities.
For the year ended 30 April 2026, Moore Barlow generated revenue of about £45m and distributable profits of £13m, and Knights is acquiring the portion that accounts for around 70% of that revenue.
The acquisition will bolster Knights’ private school advisory capabilities through Moore Barlow's leading Schools and Charities team, described as one of the UK’s leading teams in that market.
Knights Group Holdings has agreed to buy the commercial and private wealth operations of Moore Barlow LLP for £27 million, marking the company's second-largest acquisition since listing on the London Stock Exchange Law Gazette. The deal covers about 160 fee earners and roughly 70% of Moore Barlow's revenue, strengthening Knights' presence across the South East and South Central regions with expanded capabilities in real estate, private wealth, and schools advisory.
Knights will pay £18 million upfront at completion, expected in early November, with the remaining £9 million spread over three years Yahoo Finance. The acquisition comes just days after Knights completed its purchase of THP Solicitors, signaling a rapid expansion strategy targeting affluent regional markets.
A 220-Year Firm Gets Broken Up
Moore Barlow traces its roots back over 220 years and was formed in 2020 from the merger of Moore Blatch and Barlow Robbins ADVFN. Knights is not buying the entire firm — Moore Barlow's personal injury, clinical negligence, and Court of Protection practices will be sold separately. The deal covers commercial and private wealth work that generated about £30 million in revenue in the 2026 financial year.
Knights' Payment Plan Spreads Cost Over Three Years
The £27 million price tag breaks down as £18 million due at completion and £9 million paid in equal installments over the next three years Traders Union. Knights will fund the entire deal from its existing banking facilities without raising new debt. The company targets a net debt to EBITDA ratio of around 1.5x by year-end, showing disciplined financial management.
Office Consolidation and Schools Advisory Boost
Knights plans to merge Moore Barlow's Woking and Guildford offices into a single new Guildford location and shut its City office. The deal adds a leading Schools and Charities team to Knights' portfolio, strengthening its private school advisory capabilities. Moore Barlow currently operates from six offices across the South East and South Central regions.
For the year ended April 30, 2026, the acquired operations generated distributable profits of about £13 million ADVFN. Knights expects the acquisition to close in early November as the company pushes its strategy of building scale in affluent regional markets through strategic acquisitions.
Market Reaction and Rapid Deal Momentum
Despite the acquisition announcement, Knights Group shares fell roughly 2% following confirmation of the Moore Barlow deal asktraders. This comes amid the company's aggressive expansion — the THP Solicitors acquisition closed just days before, showing Knights is making multiple regional moves in quick succession. The market's muted reaction suggests investors may be concerned about integration risks or debt levels.
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