Grant Thornton UK acquires Fairgrove to strengthen Deals Advisory business
Grant Thornton UK’s first domestic acquisition since Cinven’s investment strengthens its market-leading Deals Advisory business and expands support for private equity clients.
Leading business and financial advisor Grant Thornton UK today announces the acquisition of Fairgrove, a strategic management consultancy that supports business owners, managers and investors to grow profitable sales and complete successful mergers and acquisitions. The deal is Grant Thornton UK’s first domestic acquisition since Cinven’s investment and forms part of the firm’s strategy to invest in senior talent, specialist capability and high-growth advisory services.
Founded in 2013, Fairgrove has built a strong reputation for practical, evidence-based and customer-centric advice, combining customer insight with financial analysis, market research and sector expertise. Its services include strategy consulting, transaction support and commercial due diligence.
Fairgrove’s specialist commercial due diligence and strategy expertise is highly complementary to Grant Thornton UK’s established mid-market Deals Advisory business. The combination will give clients access to deeper support across the deal lifecycle, from commercial diligence and transaction support through to strategy and value creation. The acquisition comes as private equity investors and ambitious businesses increasingly seek integrated advice that combines commercial insight, financial analysis and post-deal value creation support.
Grant Thornton UK has a leading mid-market Deals Advisory business, completing 246 transactions in 2025 with a cumulative value of £12.3 billion; 53% of those transactions involved private equity and 24% had international involvement.
The acquisition of Fairgrove builds upon the firm’s wider investment in senior talent, with 41 equity partners who have already started in 2026 and a further 43 in the pipeline towards its target of appointing 160 partners by the end of 2027.
Malcolm Gomersall, Chief Executive at Grant Thornton UK, said:
“Fairgrove has built a strong reputation for practical, evidence-based advice in strategy, transaction support and commercial due diligence. Bringing that expertise together with Grant Thornton UK’s broader advisory capabilities will allow us to provide even stronger support to clients as they make important growth, investment and transaction decisions. It is also another clear example of how we are investing in the senior talent and specialist capabilities needed to strengthen our market-leading Deals Advisory business."
Keely Woodley, Head of Strategic Advisory at Grant Thornton UK, added:
“Fairgrove strengthens Grant Thornton UK’s ability to deliver pre- and post-deal value creation support to our private equity and corporate clients with their rigorous, data-led approach and sector-led strategic insights. Their specialist expertise in strategy, transaction support and commercial due diligence, combined with our wider advisory capabilities, gives clients access to a broader, more connected team with the insight and experience to help them make confident decisions. We’re delighted to be working together as one team, bringing our complementary expertise and shared client focus together to create even greater value.”
Patrick Woodrow, Co-founder of Fairgrove, said:
“Joining Grant Thornton UK gives Fairgrove the opportunity to build on the reputation we have established since 2013, while giving our clients and people access to the scale, expertise and wider advisory capabilities of a larger firm. Fairgrove clients will continue to be supported by the same specialist team, with access to additional expertise and resources from Grant Thornton UK."
Paddy Woods Ballard, Co-founder of Fairgrove, added:
“The combination of the current CDD Provider of the Year and FDD Provider of the Year is a gamechanger for our private equity and M&A clients. There is a real buzz around both firms and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Fairgrove will continue to operate under its own brand as Fairgrove, a Grant Thornton UK company.