Oxfordshire law firm Hedges Law has secured investment backing as part of a new growth strategy designed to protect its heritage while supporting future expansion across the county.
The firm, which has served clients across Oxfordshire for more than 230 years, has become the founding business of Oak Legal Group, a new professional services group backed by Henley-on-Thames private investment office CKM3.
The investment will allow Hedges Law to continue investing in its people, technology and services while retaining its established brand, leadership team and local presence.
The firm, which has offices in Oxford, Chipping Norton and Wallingford, will continue operating under the Hedges Law name, serving individuals, families, farms and businesses across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.
New model aims to support independent law firms
Oak Legal Group has been established in response to increasing consolidation within the legal sector, with the aim of bringing together established law firms while allowing them to maintain their identity and local decision-making.
Unlike traditional acquisition models, Oak Legal says firms joining the group will retain their own brands, leadership and culture while benefiting from shared investment and operational support.
The group will be led by entrepreneur Colm McGinley alongside Hedges Law Directors Nicola Poole and Rebecca Kashti.
Nicola Poole, who has led Hedges Law for 14 years, said the move represented a new stage in the firm’s development.
“Hedges has been part of Oxfordshire life for more than two centuries and we are incredibly proud of that heritage,” she said.
“Our ability to evolve is what has allowed us to sustain and continue to serve our clients for multiple generations. This investment allows us to continue building on what makes the firm special while ensuring we remain well placed to support clients and communities across the county for many years to come.”
Investment comes amid changing legal landscape
The announcement comes as independent law firms face increasing pressure from rising costs, regulatory demands and wider consolidation across the sector.
According to figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, hundreds of UK law firms have closed or changed status in recent years as the industry continues to evolve.
Oak Legal Group said its approach is focused on partnering with established firms that have strong local reputations and shared values.
Rebecca Kashti said: “We are not building for a short-term exit or pursuing growth at any cost. We are creating a platform of leading law firms that share the same values – where people and clients come first, and where culture is protected, not eroded.”
Oxfordshire roots remain central
For Hedges Law, the investment marks a new chapter for one of the county’s longest-established professional services firms.
Founded in 1789, the firm has developed from its historic roots into a modern practice providing advice across family and property law, disputes, wills, probate and inheritance planning.
The firm became employee-owned in 2021 and says the latest investment is intended to support its long-term future while maintaining its connection with the communities it serves.
Poole said the deal represented an opportunity to build on the firm’s history rather than move away from it.
“This is about shaping the future of the firm, not just securing it,” she said, adding that the ambition was to ensure clients across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds continue to have access to trusted legal advice from a firm with deep local knowledge.
