Retiring or Selling Your Law Firm
Exit with Value - Whether You're Planning a Sale, Merger or Retirement
Carton & Co helps UK law firm owners and partners plan their exit — whether that's a full sale, merger, phased retirement or realising value from work-in-progress. We work with managing partners, sole practitioners and leadership teams to identify the best route out, maximise value, and navigate the regulatory and practical challenges of leaving legal practice.
With 30+ years advising the legal sector, we understand that not every firm will attract a trade buyer - and that shouldn't mean walking away with nothing. We help you explore all the options.
The Retirement Challenge
Many solicitors approaching retirement face a difficult reality. The number of SRA-regulated firms has fallen by 18% since 2010, and consolidation continues to accelerate. For smaller practices, sole practitioners, and firms in sectors like personal injury — where fixed costs have squeezed margins — finding a buyer for the whole practice can be extremely challenging.
Traditional exit routes assume a trade sale or internal succession. But what if there's no obvious buyer? What if the practice isn't attractive as a going concern but still has significant value locked in work-in-progress?
We help you understand all your options:
- Full sale or merger to a trade buyer
- Internal succession to partners or associates
- Phased retirement with gradual wind-down
- Realising value from work-in-progress through specialist partners
- Compliant closure with maximum value extraction
- Department or practice area disposal
Why Preparation Matters
The legal market is changing rapidly. Consolidation is accelerating, new entrants and ABS structures are reshaping competition, and acquirers are increasingly sophisticated. Firms seeking buyers face heavy due diligence, successor practice considerations, TUPE obligations, and significant valuation discounts.
Acquirers look for firms with:
- Strong financial performance and sustainable margins
- Differentiated market positioning
- Scalable and systemised operations
- Robust client relationships and retention
- Forward-looking leadership and growth potential
Firms that meet these criteria command higher valuations. But even firms that don't tick every box can exit with value — if they plan properly and explore all available routes.
How We Help
For Firms Seeking Sale or Merger
- Strategic Positioning - we identify and articulate your firm's unique value proposition to potential acquirers.
- Growth Potential - we co-create a compelling business case that resonates with buyers and investors.
- Finance and Operations - we help create a leaner, better-run firm with clearer profitability and less risk.
- Client Base and Relationships - we define and present a resilient client portfolio aligned with buyer interests.
- Talent and Succession - We strengthen your team's value and develop retention strategies for continuity.
- Acquirer Engagement - We support strategic engagement with acquirers aligned with your values and goals.
For Retiring Solicitors Without a Clear Buyer
Not every practice will attract a traditional buyer — but that doesn't mean there's no value to realise. Through our network of specialist partners, we can help you explore options for:
- Work-in-progress realisation - extracting value from part-run cases and ongoing matters
- Practice area disposal - selling or transferring specific departments to specialist firms
- Compliant wind-down - closing compliantly while maximising recoveries
- Phased exit - structured retirement that protects clients and realises value over time
These approaches can deliver significantly better outcomes than simply closing the doors or accepting a heavily discounted distressed sale.
Why Choose Carton & Co
Allan Carton is a qualified solicitor with an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School. Since 1990, Allan has specialised in advising UK law firms on business development, client relationships, and practice management.
We understand both the operational realities of running a practice and the challenges of exiting from one. Our network includes specialist partners who can help with scenarios beyond traditional sale — including WIP realisation and compliant closure.
Getting Started
Whether you're planning an exit in 1–3 years, approaching retirement without a clear succession plan, or facing an unexpected need to wind down, we can help you understand your options and build a plan that protects value.
All conversations are completely confidential.
Email: acarton@cartonconsultants.com
Phone: 07779 653105
Carton & Co - Specialist consultants to law firms and Legal Teams on technology, client relationships, and business development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should we start preparing to sell or retire from our law firm?
A: Ideally 2-3 years before your intended exit. This gives time to strengthen financials, improve operations, and address issues that might reduce value. However, if you're already at the point of wanting to exit, there are still options — speak to us early.
Q: What if we can't find a buyer for our practice?
A: A full trade sale isn't the only option. You may be able to realise value from work-in-progress, sell specific practice areas, or structure a compliant wind-down that maximises recoveries. We can help you explore alternatives through our specialist partners.
Q: What makes a law firm attractive to acquirers?
A: Acquirers look for sustainable profitability, diversified client relationships, efficient operations, growth potential, and capable teams. Firms with clear market positioning and documented processes command higher valuations.
Q: How do you help increase our firm's value before sale?
A: We identify factors that reduce value and help you tackle them - such as inefficient operations, narrow client base and sources of business, poor financial visibility - while strengthening elements that attract buyers: recurring revenue, strong retention, scalable processes, and growth potential.
Q: What types of acquirers are active in the UK legal market?
A: The market includes consolidators building national platforms, regional firms seeking expansion, private equity investors, ABS operators, and complementary practices. Different acquirers value different things, so preparation should consider your likely buyer profile.
Q: Can you help if we've already received acquisition interest?
A: Yes. Even with active interest, there's usually time to improve presentation, due diligence readiness, and negotiation positioning. We help you respond from a position of strength.
Q: Is this relevant for sole practitioners or very small firms?
A: Absolutely. Smaller practices often have more to gain from proper planning. Even if a full sale isn't realistic, there are usually options for realising value from WIP or specific practice areas.
Q: What about regulatory and insurance issues when closing?
A: Professional indemnity run-off and SRA compliance are significant considerations. We help you navigate these, and our specialist partners can assist with compliant closure where needed.