Personal injury specialist Minster Law has completed the acquisition of a rival firm’s caseload and announced plans to establish a new base. The firm, which has its roots in Yorkshire, has bought the personal injury business of ARAG Law and will open a new office in Bristol to accommodate the staff moving across.

The deal is the second acquisition of its kind in recent years, following Minster buying the high-volume PI business of Irwin Mitchell in 2022. After opening a London office this year, Minster said it wants to expand its national presence and is continuing to pursue further opportunities that complement the business.

Shirley Woolham, chief executive, said the deal is another sign of a fragmented market becoming more specialised and limited to a smaller number of dedicated firms.

‘The personal injury market has changed fundamentally over recent years,’ she said. ‘What was once viewed as a relatively standard legal service has become an increasingly specialist discipline, requiring sustained investment in legal expertise, technology, operational capability and the ability to deliver consistently high-quality outcomes at scale.’

Following consultation, all of ARAG Law’s personal injury team will transfer to Minster’s established personal injury operation in a new Minster Law office in central Bristol. The financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

ARAG Law employs around 200 people across its legal business. It was previously known as DAS Law before the ARAG group acquired it in 2024.

Mike Lowe, director of law at ARAG Law, said: ‘This is an excellent deal for both Minster and ARAG Law, furthering Minster Law’s strategic expansion into delivering specialist personal injury services and providing continuity for ARAG Law’s clients, colleagues and business partners.’