The move is another example of private equity money entering the M&A sector for wealth management and the professional services sector.
Mourant,
a professional services advisory firm, announced yesterday
that private equity house MML has taken a minority stake in
its business for an undisclosed sum.
“The investment will support our continued focus on delivering
exceptional client outcomes. This includes further investment in
technology, particularly in AI-enabled systems and data
infrastructure, and in our people, through enhanced career
pathways and the development of next generation talent,” Mourant
said in a statement.
The move is another example of private equity money entering the
M&A sector for wealth management and the professional
services sector. MML, founded in 1988 and headquartered in
London, has €4.7 billion ($5.4 billion) in assets under
management, according to its website.
Control of the Mourant group, and its leadership, will remain
with existing owners. Control and ownership of the law firm
entities will remain with the relevant locally-qualified
partners, Mourant said. Where required, regulatory notifications
and approvals are being progressed with the relevant authorities
in each jurisdiction in which the firm operates.
Mourant has about 1,000 people in its businesses and offices in
nine international financial centres. It advises on the laws of
the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey
and Luxembourg. It also provides specialist entity
management, governance, regulatory and consulting services.
Mourant said its existing owner-managers are co-investing
alongside MML.
“This investment does not change what we are building. It changes
the pace at which we can build it,” Jonathan Rigby, Mourant chief
executive, said in a statement. “Bringing deep sector
experience, MML shares our high conviction in the integrated
services platform, in the opportunity ahead of us, and in the
team we have assembled. Our clients can expect the same Mourant
they know, for the long term, with greater capability and
momentum behind it.”
Mourant was advised by Rothschild & Co, Dejonghe & Morley,
Addleshaw Goddard, PwC, Deloitte and FractionGC. MML was advised
by Baird, Oliver Wyman and Pinsent Masons.
Private equity
A variety of private equity deals involving professional services
firms, including accountancy businesses, law firms and those in
the wealth management space, have taken place in recent
years.
In the area of UK law firms, for example, private equity invested
an estimated £250 million ($336 million) into such organisations
last year and around £80 million so far in 2026. This is a fall
from a record £534 million in 2024, but the volume of deals
surged. A total of 15 private equity-backed legal transactions
completed by early May 2026, versus 12 in both 2024 and 2025.
In the wealth and financial advisory sector, an example from 2024
is the purchase by a group of PE players of Hargreaves Lansdown.
Permira had owned Tilney since 2014 and that business merged with
Smith & Williamson to form Evelyn Partners, which has been bought
by NatWest Group. Smith & Williamson’s separate
accountancy/business advisory firm was sold to Apax Partners in
2024. Pollen Street Capital bought fund services platform Tutman.