Clarkslegal

What Clarkslegal does

Clarkslegal LLP is a full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Reading, Berkshire, with a secondary office in London. Founded in 1913, the firm operates as a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales and provides legal advisory services across ten core practice areas: commercial real estate, construction, corporate and M&A, employment, immigration, IP and commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, privacy and data protection, public procurement, and restructuring and insolvency. The firm serves a heterogeneous client base ranging from start-ups and SMEs to PLCs and large multinationals, with particular sector depth in automotive, education, independent schools, finance, telecom/media/tech, pharma/healthcare, and retail/hospitality/leisure. It is a founding member of the TAGlaw international alliance, providing cross-border capability through a network of independent law firms.

The firm operates on a partner-led, professional services revenue model, generating fees from legal advisory, transaction support, dispute resolution, and compliance work. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with flexible fee structures and full cost transparency described as a differentiator. Distribution is direct-to-client through the Reading and London offices, supplemented by a content-led marketing programme that includes a quarterly Insights podcast, on-demand webinars, a subscription newsletter, and active social media presence. Three adjacent sub-brands — Forbury People (HR consultancy), Employment Buddy (online employment resource), and Forbury Tech (legal services for tech SMEs) — extend the platform beyond core legal services.

As of May 2026, Clarkslegal became part of the Orwins legal services group, backed by Aliter Capital, which combines BBS Law, Carter Bond, and Clarkslegal into a 150-person platform generating £23m in revenue with a stated target to exceed £50m within two years. Clarkslegal retains its brand identity and nine-partner leadership team (40 staff total) within the larger group. The firm has held consecutive top-tier rankings in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners from 2024 through 2026, with particular recognition for its litigation and employment teams. There is no proprietary technology platform; the firm's offering is its specialist legal expertise and partner-led advisory delivery model.

Name

Clarkslegal

Legal name

Clarkslegal LLP

Website

https://clarkslegal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Clarkslegal LLP is a full-service UK commercial law firm headquartered in Reading with a London office, serving start-ups, SMEs, PLCs, and multinationals across corporate, litigation, employment, real estate, and ten other practice areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Full-service law firm providing comprehensive commercial legal services across multiple practice areas including corporate/M&A, litigation, employment, immigration, real estate, IP, privacy, construction, and public procurement. Revenue generated through professional fees for legal advisory, transaction support, dispute resolution, and compliance services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clarkslegal LLP is a full-service commercial law firm delivering partner-led legal advisory and representation services across ten practice areas: Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Corporate and M&A, Employment, Immigration, IP & Commercial, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Privacy & Data Protection, Public Procurement, and Restructuring and Insolvency. The firm serves start-ups, SMEs, PLCs, and large multinationals across sectors including automotive, education, finance, telecom/media/tech, pharma/healthcare, and retail/hospitality/leisure.

Product overview

Clarkslegal LLP is a full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Reading, Berkshire with offices in London. The firm operates as a unified platform offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas: Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Corporate and M&A, Employment, Immigration, IP & Commercial, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Privacy & Data Protection, Public Procurement, and Restructuring and Insolvency. These core services are complemented by adjacent offerings including Forbury People (HR consultancy), Employment Buddy (online employment resources), and Forbury Tech (tech start-up/SME services). Clarkslegal also participates in the TAGlaw international alliance for cross-border legal support. The firm's over 100-year history positions it as a trusted advisor to start-ups, SMEs, PLCs, and large multinationals across sectors including automotive, education, finance & security, telecom/media/technology, pharma/healthcare, and retail/hospitality/leisure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forbury People: HR Consultancy services
• Employment Buddy
• Forbury Tech

Products and services

• Commercial Real Estate Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Target to double revenues from £23m to more than £50m within two years following Orwins investment

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TAGlawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarkslegal is one of the founding members of TAGlaw, a leading international alliance of high-quality, independent law firms. This membership provides Clarkslegal and its clients access to a worldwide network of excellent legal experts for cross-border legal matters.
• Forbury PeopleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHR Consultancy service offered in partnership with Forbury People, providing human resources advisory services alongside legal advice.
• Employment BuddyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline Employment Resource partner providing digital tools and resources for employment law matters.
• Forbury TechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTech Start-ups and SMEs service providing concise, clear, and jargon-free legal advice for technology start-ups and small businesses, offered in partnership with Forbury.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Gardner Leader LLP: Berkshire-headquartered (Maidenhead) full-service commercial firm with corporate, commercial property, employment, and dispute resolution offerings. Comparable on regional presence, full-service positioning, and target client mix in the Thames Valley corridor.
• B P Collins LLP: Full-service commercial law firm headquartered in Watford/Colnbrook with strong Thames Valley presence across corporate, commercial, employment, and dispute resolution. Directly comparable on size, full-service model, and target SME/PLC client base in the same regional market.
• Boyes Turner LLP: Reading-based full-service commercial firm with strong corporate, employment, and dispute resolution practices. Comparable on location (Thames Valley), full-service offering, and partner-led model serving similar SME and enterprise clients.
• RWK Goodman LLP: Reading-based full-service commercial firm (now part of the Lawfront group). Direct peer on geography, full-service commercial practice mix, and similar SME-to-PLC client base in the Thames Valley/London market.
• Shoosmiths LLP: UK national full-service commercial firm with a Reading office and strong corporate, employment, real estate, and litigation practices. Comparable as a full-service commercial competitor operating in the same Thames Valley footprint, albeit at significantly larger scale.
• Blandy & Blandy LLP: Berkshire-based (Reading) full-service commercial law firm with established heritage serving Thames Valley businesses. Direct competitor in the same geography with overlapping practice areas including corporate, employment, property, and dispute resolution.

Broad incumbents

• Weightmans LLP: UK national full-service law firm with strong insurance, corporate, employment, and dispute resolution practices. Comparable on full-service model and overlap in employment, commercial litigation, and real estate, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Irwin Mitchell LLP: Large UK full-service commercial law firm with national coverage across corporate, employment, real estate, IP, and dispute resolution. Comparable as a full-service competitor with overlapping practice areas and similar SME-to-PLC client mix, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• DWF Group plc: Large UK-listed full-service law firm with national and international footprint. Comparable on full-service commercial model and overlapping practice areas, but operates at materially greater scale and as a public consolidator — competing for the same enterprise/RFT panel work.

Others

• Aliter Capital LLP: Private equity firm backing Orwins and the broader legal services roll-up including Clarkslegal. Comparable as the equity sponsor shaping the group's M&A and growth strategy; relevant for understanding capital allocation, exit timing, and acquisition pipeline rather than direct competitive overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarkslegal-llp
• Xx.com/Clarkslegal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Clarkslegal