Shoosmiths has advised Azets on its acquisition of Alextra Accountants, one of the North West’s fastest-growing accountancy and business advisory firms, strengthening Azets’ presence across the region and supporting its continued UK expansion strategy.
Published: 11 May 2026
Alextra, which operates across Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe and Warrington, supports clients across the North West and has built a strong reputation through consistent organic growth and long-standing relationships with SME clients.
The acquisition represents an expansion into the corridor between Birmingham and Manchester for Azets, which has 4,000 people working across more than 70 offices in the UK, and strengthens its presence in the North West region ahead of further investment, and recruitment in the area.
Colleagues at Alextra will benefit from Azets’ investment in people, technology and infrastructure – creating new opportunities for development and enabling even stronger service delivery for clients.
Shoosmiths advised Azets on all legal aspects of the transaction.
The Shoosmiths team was led by Partner Simon Procter, Senior Associate Maria Foanta, Associate Emily Egan andParalegal Fatima Khan. The team was supported by real estate Partners James Speed and Richard Cressall (Real Estate), with tax advice provided by Principal Associate Caroline Airey.
Simon Procter, Partner in Shoosmiths’ Corporate team, said: “We are delighted to have supported Azets on this strategic acquisition. Alextra is a highly respected regional firm with an excellent reputation and strong cultural alignment with Azets. The transaction is a natural fit and reflects continued consolidation and investment within the professional services sector.”
Craig Pettit, deputy General Counsel at Azets, commented: “The Shoosmiths team provided clear, pragmatic advice throughout and guided us confidently to completion. They understand our commercial priorities and navigated a complex process with real efficiency. We’re delighted with the outcome and grateful for their support.”