The retail giant has purchased Sheffield-based Collective Legal Solutions, which describes itself as an ‘inheritance planning specialist’, for an undisclosed amount. The business will initially work separately from the existing Co-operative Legal Services, before the two entities are gradually merged to provide wills, trust and probate services.

Bleak times

The Co-op Group has suffered a turbulent few years, having to restructure to reduce debt levels and selling parts of the business. Co-operative Legal Services, which was the joint-first alternative business structure to be licensed in 2012, did little to improve the group’s fortunes, posting £5m losses for 2014 and making significant cuts to its personal injury department.

Face-to-face service

Co-operative Legal Services managing director Matt Howells said the announcement shows the Co-op is putting its legal services division ‘at the heart of the rebuild’. He added that the acquisition provides ‘an alternative channel to market,’ with research indicating that the majority of clients value the face-to-face service offered by Collective Legal Solutions. Sources: The Law Society Gazette; The Co-operative Group