Fri, 05 Jun 2026 | MBO/MBI
Bott and Co, a law firm based in Wilmslow and focused on consumer law, has completed a transition to becoming 100 per cent employee owned. The move forms part of a longer-term succession plan that will ultimately see the firm’s founders step back from the business’ day-to-day operations.
Founded in 2001 by Paul Hinchliffe, David Bott and Gary Froggatt, Bott and Co has been a prominent presence in a number of key areas of consumer justice, including taking cases on flight delay law to the Court of Appeal and taking the leading case on protecting solicitors lien to the Supreme Court.
The move to employee ownership is part of a wider succession plan which will see the firm’s founders gradually step back from its day-to-day running over the next two to three years, handing responsibility over to the company’s strong internal management team. The succession plan is aimed at providing the business with stability, continuity and independence.
Managing Director and co-founder Paul Hinchliffe commented: "Employee ownership is the right ownership model for us because it recognises the contribution of the people in the business and gives them a meaningful stake in its future.”
"We have great confidence in the quality and depth of the team at Bott and Co. The firm has a strong group of leaders already in place and a wider team of excellent people across the business. They understand our values, the work that we do, our clients and partners, our culture and the responsibility that comes with taking the firm forward."
Hinchliffe added that the founders believe employee ownership “gives Bott and Co the best possible foundation for the future - for the benefit of its clients, its people and all Bott employees."
Myerson Solicitors advised Bott and Co on the transition, with Myerson senior associate Simon Nolan saying the deal was a “significant milestone” for the firm.
He continued: “Transitioning to employee ownership is a major strategic decision for any professional services business and requires careful consideration of a range of legal, tax and governance matters.”
"Drawing on our experience advising on EOT transactions in the legal sector, we worked closely with the Bott & Co team to navigate a complex process and deliver a structure that supports the firm's long-term objectives.”
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