Listed U.K. law firm Knights is to acquire a 24-lawyer Birmingham-based litigation firm. 

The move sees Knights add to ERT Law its growing repertoire of recent acquisitions. The firm announced it will acquire the full share capital in ERT Law from its three shareholders for £1.8 million.

The consideration comprises of £900,000 in cash, payable on completion, and the issue of a further £900,000 in 262,899 new ordinary shares in Knights to the selling shareholders. Completion is expected to take place on 17 January 2020.

In a statement, Knights said it would pay the consideration out of its existing funds. 

ERT has a focus on commercial litigation, and serves blue-chip and FTSE-listed companies. The addition brings Knights' Birmingham presence up to 56 fee-earners.

Knights CEO David Beech said the acquisition was: "in line with our strategy to grow our share of key geographic markets outside London".

Knights has undertaken a concerted domestic expansion drive in recent years. In 2018 it acquired Leicester firm Spearing Waite in a £5.25m deal, adding to its existing offices in Cheltenham, Chester, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Derby, Oxford and Wilmslow.

Knights is one of a raft of firms to have floated in recent years since Gateley's landmark listing in 2015. Other firms to have made the move include Keystone Law and Rosenblatt. Last year, DWF became the first law firm to float on the main market.