Advertorial: Merging or Contemplating a Merger?

Feature

posted 10 Jun 2008 in Volume 11 Issue 2

Merging or Contemplating a Merger?
SSG LEGAL are THE law firm merger experts

For lawyers caught up in the excitement of a pending merger, expectations of more offices, more lawyers and more money can be heady. Others consider growth and change to be an aberration in their sane and stable worlds. Either way, we are just about to go through a period of mergers and acquisitions that will change the face of legal service delivery. There are those who will gain and those who will lose. Now is the time when firms should be making decisions about their future - deciding on which side of the line that they land.

SSG Legal is currently working with a number of practices to develop their strategies for the future. In today's environment most are actively pursuing some form of merger activity. In fact, there is a noticeable rise in such activity. Some think this is driven by the Clementi reforms; others say that market pressures are driving firms to become more substantial and protected against fluctuating fortunes. It is probable that market pressure is causing this shift and that Clementi is just part of the subtle reconstruction that is taking place in the legal sector.

SSG Legal is a unique organisation focused on the UK legal sector. Having its foundations in the legal headhunting sector, and specialising in London partner recruitment, SSG Legal has made some rapid moves in the last two years. Now employing a national network of business and legal practice experts, SSG Legal is offering a full consulting service including a comprehensive merger and acquisition offering.

SSG Legal believes that managing partners understand that change will alter their delivery model and are asking their partners to look at alternatives. They are being driven by a number of forces; they know that the old model of partner capital must change; that they must employ technology and best practice and that they must consider succession planning and exit strategies. They also know that all this is happening in an environment where the client is becoming smarter, costs are rising and there is a downward pressure on fees.

SSG Legal offers a service to firms who would like to sell their practice, acquire a practice or merge with another. The service encompasses advice on the options open to firms, management of merger
process, the facilitation of deals and advice on post merger integration.

This service is provided by a group of people who have a track record of successful mergers and acquisitions. They have all been involved in successful mergers and the end-to-end work of moving practices together. Using SSG Legal methodologies these people will provide fast and painless transactions and integration. They allow merging firms to focus on maintaining maximum service to existing clients.

Mergers take time and effort and require a whole range of commercial skills. SSG Legal provides these skills in a structured fashion ensuring that checklist templates drive a logical sequence of events. In fact, the progression of events ensures that work is not continued unless sign-off has been achieved on previous landmarks.

Following methodology and using known expertise takes the uncertainty out of merger activity. It also ensures that the partners and fee earners keep their eye on the ball. SSG Legal know how to maximise the rewards of a merger and how to minimise the risk.