Eversheds has advised Fairpoint Group plc (Fairpoint), one of the UK's leading providers of consumer professional services, on an agreement to acquire the trade and assets of Colemans-CTTS LLP, CT Support Services Limited and the entire ordinary share capital of Holiday TravelWatch Limited (together referred to as Colemans), a consumer legal services business (the Acquisition).

The Acquisition, which is expected to complete on 14 August 2015, is for an initial consideration of £9.0 million (payable in cash and shares), together with further earn-out consideration of up to 7.0m million (payable in cash and shares).

Colemans is a provider of consumer-focused legal services with particular expertise in volume personal injury, volume conveyancing and travel law. Established in 1984, it has over 200 employees (of which 67 are fee earners) based in three offices in Manchester, Kingston and Acton.

The Eversheds team was led by corporate partner Alistair Cree, with support from Elizabeth Tindall (associate, corporate), Annika Unsworth (associate, corporate), Helen Yeung (associate, corporate), David Smith (principal associate, tax), Michelle Upton (associate, real estate), Naeema Choudry (partner, employment) and Jane Cotton (legal director, employment).

Alistair commented:

“Following on from Fairpoint’s successful acquisition of Simpson Millar LLP in 2014, a transaction which we also advised, the acquisition of Colemans further enhances Fairpoint’s offering in consumer legal services.”

Chris Moat, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“The acquisition of Colemans is an important step in the development of the Group’s fast growing legal services platform. It brings particular class leading expertise in the areas of volume personal injury, conveyancing and travel services and gives strong impetus to our agenda of reshaping the Group towards a broader professional services organisation.

"Alistair, Lizzy and the Eversheds team provided fantastic service and we look forward to working with them further in the future.”