Charles Russell Speechlys has advised the Civica Group (an investee company of OMERS Private Equity) on its two latest acquisitions – the acquisition of digital transformation specialist, IPL Group and the acquisition of legal IT solutions provider, Norwel Computer Services.
IPL Group

Based in Bath, IPL specialises in designing, building and managing secure business-critical software solutions for customers in both public and private sectors with core capabilities in digital and mobile solutions, data management and analytics. The company has a focus on supporting digital transformation from concept to implementation and the acquisition extends Civica’s position as a leading digital partner for its markets with a combined specialist capability within the Group comprising more than 750 people and related annual revenues approaching £90 million.

IPL has a successful 37-year history of delivering secure software solutions to help improve customer experience, operational efficiency and risk management for more than 400 organisations across government, security and intelligence, transport, infrastructure and financial service sectors. Customers include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Environment Agency, Highways England, Nationwide Building Society, First Group and Kent Police.
Norwel

Based in Cheadle, Norwel specialises in application software and related services for the legal sectors, supplying more than 60 customers in both public and private sectors.  Its products for legal practice and case management, including cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, are used by customers to automate day-to-day processes for improved services and increased productivity.

The company has continued to perform well in 2016 with customers in private practice, local government and commercial, including new business wins such as Cumbria County Council and system implementations including Parisi Tax LLP and United Utilities.

The Charles Russell Speechlys core team comprised Corporate Partner and Head of Private Equity Malcolm MacDougall, Corporate Associates Lucy Scott and Will Squires, Corporate Trainee Freddie Spearman, Corporate Paralegal Tom Denham-Smith, Corporate Tax Senior Associate Robert Birchall, and members of the firm’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications and Intellectual Property teams.