Nottinghamshire Law Firm Fidler and Pepper Becomes First CLC Regulated Firm to Transition to Employee Ownership
Fidler & Pepper Lawyers has announced a significant new chapter in its long history, transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in a move designed to protect the legacy, values, culture and independence that have shaped the firm for more than a century.
The Nottinghamshire-based firm has become the first law firm regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust. While a number of Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)-regulated firms have adopted the EOT model in recent years, the move represents an important milestone within the CLC-regulated legal sector.
An Employee Ownership Trust is a business structure where a company is owned by its employees through a trust. The model supports long-term stability, protects independence, and ensures that the people delivering the service have a direct stake in the firm’s success.
Established in 1888, Fidler & Pepper has grown into one of the region’s best-known legal practices, employing around 170 people across four offices in North Nottinghamshire. The firm supports both local and national clients with specialist legal services including Conveyancing, Remortgage, Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate.
The move is designed to protect the firm’s legacy while building on its growth and momentum to secure a strong future. It ensures the firm remains independent, locally rooted, and sustainably successful, with its people central to its identity, culture, and success. This transition reflects a clear commitment to preserving that culture, protecting jobs, and avoiding corporate consolidation, while continuing to deliver trusted legal services in an independent and client-focused way.
The move is also deeply personal for the firm’s leadership. The business was built on the vision and determination of a previous generation, whose belief was that by working hard and treating people properly, it was possible to build something that would last.
Fidler & Pepper has grown over time beyond its origins to become a collective effort shaped by its people – a place where careers have developed, friendships have formed, and teams have supported clients through some of life’s most important moments.
For the firm’s leadership, the decision to transition to an employee ownership trust was ultimately about protecting the legacy, whilst creating an opportunity for the business to thrive for generations to come.
Mark Slade, CTO, Chairman & Director, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of what has been built here over many years. This business began with a vision from our father, who believed that if you worked hard, treated people well and stayed true to your values, you could create something that lasted.”
“My brother Matt and I grew up seeing the commitment, the responsibility and the care that went into building the firm. Over time, it has become far bigger than any one person or family. It has become a team, a culture and a place where people build careers, support each other and achieve great things together.”
“Moving to an Employee Ownership Trust allows us to protect that legacy. It ensures the people who have helped build this business remain at its heart, and that the values that shaped the firm continue long into the future, long after any one individual steps away.”
Under the new structure, Fidler & Pepper will be owned by a trust on behalf of its employees, meaning the people who contribute to the firm’s success will share in its future. The transition places around 170 employees at the heart of the firm’s long-term success, helping ensure the culture and long-standing client relationships that define Fidler & Pepper continue to thrive. For many within the firm, it represents not just a structural change, but recognition of the contribution they have made to its success.
Matt Slade, CEO, added:
“While this decision honours the past, it is equally about the future. Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust gives us a strong and sustainable foundation for the years ahead.”
“It allows us to build on everything that has already been created while ensuring the firm remains independent, ambitious and true to its values. Most importantly, it recognises that the success of Fidler & Pepper has always come from its people.”
“We believe employee ownership will support our continued growth, enable us to better serve our clients, and create opportunities for the talented people who make this firm what it is. This is about giving something back to the people who have helped build Fidler & Pepper into what it is today.”
“We remain committed to being a trusted nationwide provider of lifetime legal services. At the same time, we keep focused on building and maintaining a workplace where our people can develop and thrive, and on remaining a local employer of choice. We look forward to continuing to support our clients, employees and communities for many years to come.”
To speak to our expert team, call 01623 451 111. For more information about Fidler & Pepper’s legal services, visit www.fidler.co.uk