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BGL, best known for being the owner of comparethemarket.com but also the owner of motor and bicycle insurance businesses, has acquired Minster Law.

Minster Law was established in 2006 and since its early days has worked closely with BGL, growing to a staff of 800 and revenues exceeding £100 million p.a.  It specialises in personal injury claims (particularly motor traffic accidents) and is therefore a natural match for a motor insurance firm. Since the banning of referral fees between insurance and law firms, a number of other insurance companies have made moves into the legal market - most notably Admiral Insurance and Ageas - and many have voiced doubts about the financial viability of small independent PI specialist firms.

These acquisitions have been made possible by the Legal Services Act, which has enabled non-lawyers to own law firm businesses, with SRA approval.

All of the 800 Minster Law staff, based in York and Wakefield, are expected to be retained post acquisition.

Parabis nudging towards Top 20 slot with latest merger

Plexus Law, part of the Parabis Group backed by PE firm Duke Street, is merging with insurance dispute  firm Greenwoods. The merger will create a £90 million defendant insurance litigation business. 

 Parabis also owns Cogent Law and the three businesses in aggregate will be turning over in the region of £150 million, meaning Parabis will be nudging a coveted top 20 UK law firm slot.

The deal is expected to complete this month and the Greenwoods brand will be retained alongside that of Plexus.