Harrison Drury advises on buyout of legal publishing company

Our corporate and commercial team has advised on the management buyout of a North West-based publishing and marketing services company.

The shares of Cheshire-based Solve Legal Ltd have been acquired by marketing director David Opie from founders Chris Harris and Karen Babington.

Solve Legal owns and publishes the legal publications – Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills and Probate, and Today’s Family Lawyer – as well as running successful industry events and awards including Women in Wills, The British Wills and Probate Awards, and the British Conveyancing Awards.

The business also offers copywriting and PR, digital marketing, and graphic design services to law firms and has a growing training arm. Collectively, the business will be known as Today’s Media following the deal.

The deal team at Harrison Drury was led by associate solicitor Tim Grover who advised David Opie on the purchase of the shares.

David Opie, who becomes managing director of Today’s Media, said: “I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead the business and to be the custodian of our industry leading publications and events.

“I want to carry on the important work Karen and Chris have done to champion all those involved in the sectors we serve. We have a fantastic team who are passionate about what we do which stands us in good stead as we look ahead to the future.”

Tim Grover, associate solicitor in our corporate and commercial team, said: “Solve Legal has stayed at the forefront of legal services publishing and marketing by helping its many clients respond to the ever-changing way people seek out legal services and how they consume news and information.

“We’re pleased to have assisted David in his purchase of this multi-faceted business and wish him well with his plans to further expand its range of legal publications and events under the Today’s Media banner.”

The business started when Chris Harris set up the publication Today’s Conveyancer in 2010.

Chris Harris comments: “I have really enjoyed taking the business to where it is today. It has been so much fun building something from scratch and working with Karen to grow it to become a group of leading publications for private client practitioners, as well as launching two nationally recognised legal awards programmes. I am sure David and his team will build on these strengths and take Today’s Media to new heights.”