Express Solicitors continues growth with two acquisitions in one week

Top 100 law firm Express Solicitors is continuing its ambitious growth plans having confirmed its first two acquisitions of 2025.

The personal injury law firm has snapped up Liverpool-based HNK Solicitors, a firm that handles civil liberties, data breach, cyber crime and criminal injury claims as well as fellow Manchester-based firm Graham Coffey & Co.

HNK Partners Brian Higgs and Craig Newton will join Express as part of the deal along with 23 other members of staff who will continue to work out of the same Liverpool office. Both Brian and Craig hold extensive specialist experience in areas such as Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims and assaults by the police claims.

Approximately 11,500 cases will be transferred over including several data breach cases with multi-party actions.

CEO James Maxey said: “We’re really looking forward to building on all our recent success and growth with HNK on board.”

Craig Newton added: “We’re excited to be joining Express Solicitors, a firm that echoes our own ethos and values with the same ultimate aim; to get people the recognition and compensation they deserve. We put our clients’ needs first, as does Express, so it’s a great fit for us.”

Graham Coffey & Co was set up in 2000, the same year as Express, and now, with Graham Coffey retiring from the practice, the two other main partners and all staff will join the Express team.

The range of work that Graham Coffey & Co covers includes a significant amount of injury claims which will bolster the various departments at Express.

Maxey said: “Graham Coffey & Co is a great quality firm and a really good fit for us as we continue to grow and increase our caseload. This deal will mean we’ll be taking on an extra 2,700 cases.”

Graham Coffey added: “Since setting my firm up in 2000, I’ve been proud to watch it not just survive but grow and flourish for a quarter of a century.

“I’ve overseen some huge changes over that period and one of our great strengths has been the fantastic team of partners, file handlers and support staff who have demonstrated the ability to adapt in the face of the many challenges faced the sector.

“The acquisition by Express is one more positive step, and my final step, to ensure we can meet the challenges ahead.”

Approximately 20 people will be joining Express from Graham Coffey & Co, taking the headcount of the whole Express Group up to circa 820. The Graham Coffey & Co office in Manchester city centre will be kept and staff will continue to work from there.