What Howes Percival does

Howes Percival is a UK commercial law firm founded in 1790 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, operating as a limited liability partnership (Howes Percival LLP) and structured as a partner-owned professional services business. The firm operates from seven offices across England (Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Norwich, and Oxford) with its headquarters in Northampton, and serves both corporate clients and individuals across a broad multi-disciplinary practice spanning corporate/M&A, employment and HR, commercial property, dispute resolution and litigation, intellectual property, private client (wills, probate, tax and trusts), immigration, insolvency, and regulatory compliance. It also maintains dedicated sector teams for automotive, agriculture and estates, health and social care, technology and innovation, media and creative industries, and food and beverage.

The firm delivers professional legal services through a partner-led model with no proprietary technology platform of note beyond standard client-facing tools: a Thomson Reuters-based client login portal for secure document collaboration and Legl-powered online payment processing. The firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, holds Lexcel accreditation, ISO 9001 certification, Investors in People accreditation (20+ years), and is a signatory to the Greener Litigation Pledge and member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance. Technology is operational rather than differentiating.

Howes Percival generates revenue through professional fees billed on hourly rates or fixed-fee arrangements, with pricing tailored to matter complexity. The firm reported turnover of £46.8 million for the year ending March 2026 — its fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth — driven by team expansion, technology and office investment, and continued office openings. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on reputation, sector expertise, and referral networks rather than performance marketing, supported by a content marketing and thought-leadership engine (insights articles, events, webinars, podcasts).

Name

Howes Percival

Legal name

Howes Percival LLP

Website

https://howespercival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1790

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Howes Percival is a UK commercial law firm founded in 1790, operating from seven offices across England. It provides multi-disciplinary legal services across corporate, employment, property, dispute resolution, and sector specializations including healthcare, automotive, and agriculture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Commercial legal services
• Corporate law advice
• Employment law services
• Commercial property law
• Litigation and dispute resolution

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Howes Percival generates revenue through providing legal services to businesses and individuals. The firm charges for legal advice and representation across multiple practice areas including corporate transactions, employment law, property services, litigation, and specialized sector services. Revenue is generated through professional fees for legal work performed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Howes Percival is a UK-based commercial law firm offering specialist legal advice and representation to businesses and individuals across more than 40 practice areas, including corporate transactions, employment law, commercial property, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and private client services. The firm operates from seven UK offices (Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford) and combines sector-focused expertise in industries such as healthcare, automotive, agriculture, technology, and media with traditional legal services. Services are delivered by partners and qualified solicitors through direct client engagement, supported by a secure client portal and online payment facilities.

Product overview

Howes Percival is a UK-based commercial law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services across multiple practice areas and industry sectors. The firm operates as a multi-service law practice rather than a technology product company, providing legal advisory services through specialized departments including Corporate, Employment & HR, Commercial Property, Dispute Resolution, and Private Client services. The firm also offers sector-specific services for Healthcare, Technology, Agriculture, Automotive, Food & Beverage, and Media industries. Key service areas include AI & Cyber Security advisory, Digital & E-Commerce, and Insolvency & Corporate Recovery. The firm has eight UK office locations (Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford) and has reported double-digit turnover growth reaching £46.8 million for the year ending March 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Services Corporate legal services including M&A transactions, private equity investments, and business sales. The firm advises on complex deals across multiple sectors.
• Employment and HR Services Comprehensive employment law advice for employers covering tribunal disputes, HR compliance, restructuring, redundancies, and senior executive exits.
• Commercial Property Commercial property legal services including acquisitions, disposals, leases, and development work across all UK regions.
• Dispute Resolution and Litigation Litigation and dispute resolution services including court proceedings, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution methods.
• Intellectual Property IP protection and exploitation services including copyright, trademarks, patents, and licensing agreements, particularly for creative industries.
• Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts Private client services including will preparation, estate administration, trust arrangements, and tax succession planning.
• Agriculture and Estates Specialized agricultural and rural business legal services including farm restructuring, landed estates management, and commercial agricultural property transactions.
• Healthcare and Social Care Legal services for NHS trusts, care providers, and healthcare organizations including clinical insourcing, regulatory compliance, and employment matters.
• AI and Cyber Security Advisory services on AI governance, cyber security compliance, data protection, and regulatory requirements for technology businesses.
• Digital and E-Commerce Legal services for digital businesses including e-commerce platforms, software providers, and technology companies covering commercial contracts and IP.
• Media and Creative Industries Specialized legal services for media companies, film and TV production, music distributors, publishers, and creative businesses.
• Technology and Innovation Legal support for technology businesses including software development, AI companies, and innovative start-ups across various technology sectors.
• Banking and Finance Banking and finance legal services advising lenders, borrowers, and financial institutions on lending, security, and regulatory matters.
• Immigration Business immigration services including sponsor licence applications, work visa sponsorship, permanent residence, and right to work considerations for start-ups, SMEs, and multinational organisations.
• Employment for Individuals Employment law advice and representation for individual employees covering settlement agreements, employment tribunal claims, and individual employment rights.
• Family Law Services Family law services for individuals covering divorce, children matters, and family-related disputes.
• Residential Conveyancing Residential property conveyancing services for individual buyers, sellers, and owners of residential property.
• Regulation and Compliance Regulatory advisory and compliance services for businesses facing investigation or prosecution by enforcing authorities including HSE, CQC, police, and local authorities.
• Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery legal services advising businesses and creditors on restructuring, recovery, and insolvency proceedings.

Quantifiable outcome

• £46.8 million turnover for year ending March 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mills & Reeve: UK national law firm with comparable regional office footprint and full-service commercial practice. Highly comparable as a mid-market UK firm with sector specializations and similar client base to Howes Percival.
• Freeths: UK full-service commercial law firm with similar regional office network and multi-disciplinary practice. Direct competitor for mid-market corporate, employment, and property work across the Midlands and other UK regions.
• Browne Jacobson: UK law firm with comparable full-service commercial offering and strong sector specializations in healthcare, insurance, and public sector. Direct competitor to Howes Percival's sector teams.
• Gateley: Listed UK commercial law firm with comparable practice mix spanning corporate, employment, real estate, and dispute resolution. Comparable scale and similar client base as a publicly listed alternative to a private LLP structure.
• Weightmans: UK law firm with multi-office presence and strong insurance, healthcare, and public sector practices. Direct competitor for sector mandates in regions overlapping with Howes Percival's footprint.
• Royds Withy King: UK regional law firm with comparable full-service practice, regional office network, and sector-focused teams. Closely comparable in scale and positioning to Howes Percival.
• HCR Law: UK regional commercial law firm with comparable multi-office structure and full-service offering. Direct competitor in the Midlands and other overlapping geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Irwin Mitchell: Larger UK national law firm with broader geographic and practice coverage. Comparable mid-market commercial offering but with greater scale and broader service portfolio than Howes Percival.
• Trowers & Hamlins: UK law firm with comparable real estate, corporate, and private client practices. Comparable practice mix but with stronger Middle East/International focus than Howes Percival's UK-only model.
• Burges Salmon: Larger UK regional law firm with strong sector practices in energy, infrastructure, and real estate. Comparable regional UK positioning but at greater scale than Howes Percival.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HowesPercival

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howes Percival