Wed, 04 Mar 2026 | BUSINESS SALE
Forbes Solicitors has expanded with the acquisition of e3 employment law LLP, a boutique law firm operating from offices in Manchester and Liverpool. The deal sees three new partners join the firm, Simon Ost, Nick Jones and Dan Bickerstaffe.
E3 employment law is a Legal 500 and Chambers tier 1 firm. The acquisition bolsters Forbes’ employment team, while expanding its service offering for both existing clients and the target company’s established client base.
Forbes Managing Partner Pauline Wild said that the deal was a “perfect acquisition” to help the firm deliver on its goal of becoming “the number one regional law firm with a national reach”, saying that e3 would bring “outstanding client experience and a brilliant team of lawyers."
Jonathan Holden, National Head of Employment at Forbes, commented: "Dan, Simon and Nick have built an enviable business that punches above its weight and we embrace that entrepreneurial spirit and experience.”
"It's clear that they always go the extra mile for clients, which mirrors our own approach to delivering exceptional client results – just like we do at Forbes. What’s more, e3 co-founder Dan Bickerstaffe was previously an associate at Forbes so knows our authentic and united culture first hand and we knew it would be a great fit.”
Dan Bickerstaffe, partner at e3, said the deal was “a logical next step” in the firm’s evolution, commenting that there were “very few firms like Forbes which deliver a truly full-service offering across commercial, public sector and private client from a regional HQ.”
He continued: “We look forward to bringing our expertise to the firm and driving growth across the North West, while benefiting from the wider team, reach and resources that will enable us to serve our clients even better."
Forbes Solicitors operates from 11 offices nationwide, with close to 400 staff and 64 partners. In the year to April 30 2025, the company reported turnover of £25.6 million, up from £22.9 million a year earlier, while operating profit grew from £4.3 million to £6 million.
Over the past ten years, the company’s employment team has grown by more than 300 per cent and is now established as one of the North West’s largest by headcount and specialism.
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