Durham-headquartered, EMG Solicitors is set for further growth following the announcement that Fletchers Group has agreed to acquire the clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams of Freeths.

A total of 42 colleagues will join the Group, comprising 21 in clinical negligence and 21 in Court of Protection, strengthening its position as a leading UK provider of specialist legal services.

Under the agreement, the clinical negligence team will join Fletchers Solicitors, while the Court of Protection team will become part of EMG Solicitors, a standalone business within Fletchers Group led by Emma Gaudern.

Freeths’ teams bring a strong reputation for high-value, complex work, with Tier 1 legal directory rankings across both disciplines, alongside a high-quality caseload and a substantial Court of Protection portfolio.

The Clinical Negligence team is led by Jane Williams and Carolyn Lowe. The Court of Protection team is led by Natasha Molloy.

Both teams are based in Nottingham, Oxford and Derby and will join Fletchers and EMG Solicitors in June, expanding the Group’s reach and capability across these key regions.

Emma Gaudern, CEO of EMG Solicitors, said: “This is another important step in the continued growth of our Court of Protection business.

“Alongside our new colleagues from JE Bennett Law and Fletchers’ Court of Protection team, we are delighted to welcome the Freeths team to EMG as we continue to grow our specialist Court of Protection and private client business.

“With more than 300 colleagues across the business, this gives us even greater strength and depth to support clients with long-term and complex needs.”

Fletchers Group CEO Peter Haden said: “The Court of Protection team adds significant depth to our national offering, enabling us to support clients across their full journey - from serious injury and clinical negligence cases through to lifelong Court of Protection and private client services.

“These teams are a strong cultural fit for the Group, with a shared commitment to delivering excellent outcomes for clients, working collaboratively, and supporting our people to succeed.”

Commenting on the deal, Freeths National Managing Partner Karl Jansen said: “We are proud of the strength and reputation our clinical negligence and Court of Protection teams have built, and the high-quality work they deliver for clients.

“The market continues to evolve, and long-term success in these specialist areas increasingly requires scale, focus and sustained investment. We are confident that Fletchers and EMG offer the right platform for our clients and our people, with the ambition and capability to support their continued growth.”

Natasha Molloy, Partner and Head of Court of Protection at Freeths, added: “I am pleased and excited to be joining Fletchers Group. I am delighted that we will be working alongside the highly respected and experienced Court of Protection practitioners from EMG Solicitors, JE Bennett Law and Fletchers. This is a fantastic opportunity for our team to be part of a nationwide force in Court of Protection, and we are confident that our values align as we come together to continue delivering exceptional outcomes for vulnerable individuals and their families.”

Peter Haden added: “Together, we are building a market-leading group of specialist, independent firms, each focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for clients in their area of law, supported by the scale of the Group to invest in growth, technology and M&A.”