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River Cam Group (spun off from Thames Equity Partners), founded by Louis Lew, has acquired 100% of Ives & Co Solicitors, a UK-based consumer legal services firm with a strong focus on residential conveyancing and private client work.
The transaction was supported by 15 experienced institutional and individual investors, including one of the sellers, who is retaining a small equity stake. Among them are Lagar Ventures, Cabiedes Capital, Ventus Capital Partners, alongside former searchers/current operators such as Urs Weingart, Alex Kirn, Till Bossert, Femi Okeya, Jonathan Ferrari, and Neil Cuggy. Board members include Jaime Alatorre (Cerralvo Capital), Andrew Freiman (Cromwell Harbor), and Alex Tuya (CEO, Page Bros).
The acquisition was financed through a combination of equity and senior debt provided by Growth Lending, with 30% of the consideration structured as an earn-out tied to EBITDA growth. While specific terms remain confidential, the transaction size falls within the lower mid-market range typical of UK SF acquisitions.
Ives & Co is a well-established regional law firm with offices in Nottingham and Kent, specialising primarily in residential conveyancing alongside wills and probate services. For FY2025, the firm generated approximately £1.3M+ in adjusted EBITDA. The business employs more than 30 fee earners and support staff and maintains longstanding relationships with referral partners across its regions. The firm has built a strong local reputation, supported by high client satisfaction and repeat/referral-driven workflows.
Louis Lew commented: “Ives & Co stood out for its strong operational foundation, resilient cash generation, and clear opportunities for both organic and inorganic growth. The firm has an excellent team and reputation in its core markets. Our focus post-acquisition is to support the existing leadership, enhance operational efficiency, expand referral partnerships, and selectively pursue buy-and-build opportunities in the UK consumer legal services market. As with any integration, maintaining service quality while scaling responsibly will be a key priority.”
Legal (buyer): Irwin Mitchell / Legal (lender): Fieldfisher / DD: Buzzacott
