Legal costs lawyers merge to create Northern costs powerhouse

Two leading legal costs firms based in the north-west are joining forces to create a new specialist operator to serve the legal profession across England and Wales.

Peak Costs has been brought to market as a result of a merger between Carlisle-headquartered Paramount Legal Costs (Paramount) and Liverpool-based KE Costs (KE).

With a combined workforce of more than 40 staff, the deal will see Peak Costs becoming one of the largest providers of specialist legal costs services across the country. The firm will provide the full range of costs services to law firms in legal specialisms including clinical negligence, personal injury, Court of Protection and commercial litigation. The combined annual turnover of the new business is anticipated to exceed £3m.

Managing director of Peak Costs, Martin Walsh commented: “It’s a cliché to say that I’m delighted to announce this deal, but it’s true nonetheless. The management teams at both Paramount Legal Costs and KE Costs started a conversation a little while ago about whether there was an opportunity to work together, and that initial chat has brought the businesses together into this brand-new organisation, Peak Costs.

“Both businesses have very similar values, and our plan is to continue a journey we started separately, of providing outstanding costs services to our law firm clients. Like its predecessors, Peak Costs will support lawyers by enabling them to unlock commercial value from their files, allowing them to work with experts that they know and trust, and supporting the critical work carried out by the legal sector in England and Wales.”

Head of operations at Peak Costs Jon Powell added “This merger is all about growth, and expanding the number of law firms we can help. But it’s also about remembering where we are from and what we are about. The firms that currently work with both KE and Paramount know what to expect from us, and our approach won’t change.

“We think there’s a huge opportunity for Peak Costs and we are excited about what we can achieve together. Both Paramount Legal Costs and KE Costs have built excellent teams of both fee earners and support staff, and with that firepower behind us, we are aiming high.”

The merger between Paramount Legal Costs and KE Costs will complete in September. Until then both businesses will continue to operate as usual from their current offices.

Financial advice and due diligence on the deal was provided by Tom Blandford, Sursum Advisory.

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For more information about the merger between Paramount Legal Costs and KE Costs, or to find out more about Peak Costs, please contact:
Victoria Moffatt
[email protected]
07795 077 577

Image: L – R Martin Walsh, managing director of Peak Costs; Jon Powell, head of operations at Peak Costs.