National law firm Freeths has advised fast-growing HR transformation consultancy, LACE Partners, on a £10.2m investment from Mobeus.

Founded in 2014 by Aaron Alburey and Cathy Acratopulo, LACE Partners has established itself as a specialist leader in the HR consulting market to support HR Directors and CPOs to deliver on their strategic aims. LACE leverages the experience and thought leadership of its highly skilled team and spans an impressive client list consisting of multinational FTSE100 clients.

Mobeus has provided a £10.2m combined debt and equity package to acquire a minority stake in and support the strategic development and growth of LACE Partners. Mobeus will support LACE in expanding the capability and scale of its practice areas, given the increasing demand for its services.

The Freeths team was led by Corporate Partner Malin Svanberg Larsson, supported by Employment Partner Kevin Poulter, Banking and Finance Partner James Dyson, Tax Director Claire Boyce, associates Christopher Johnstone and Charlotte Beddows and legal assistant Nathan Davis. Ed Groome of Vivero provided corporate finance advice to LACE.

Malin Svanberg Larsson, Corporate Partner at Freeths said: “Supporting LACE Partners further evidences our capabilities in the high growth/owner managed business space with advancement towards private equity investment, and this follows on from various roles we have had over the last 24 months.”

Cathy Acratopulo, MD and co-founder of LACE commented: “From our first meeting it was clear that Mobeus understands how to grow human capital businesses and has a clear Partnership approach to working alongside entrepreneurs as a minority investor. We have worked closely together through the deal process, and we are excited to launch a period of organic and acquisitive growth together. We are impressed with the invaluable support that Malin and her team has provided us both before and throughout the transaction process. The Freeths team co-ordinated all aspects of our transaction and made it as seamless as possible.”

Investment Director Freddie Bacon added: “Mobeus is delighted to be partnering with LACE, a high-quality platform in a market which increasingly requires strategic advice and delivery capability across the HR spectrum.  Since our initial conversations, we have been enthused by the ambition of founders Aaron and Cathy and the calibre of talent across their wider team. Mobeus is eager to support these plans by leveraging our recent experiences of the wider consultancy sector, which delivered two successful exits last year.”