Civica acquires legal IT services firm Norwel Computer Services

Civica has acquired legal IT solutions provider Norwel Computer Services. Based in Cheadle, Cheshire, Norwel specialises in application software and related services for the legal sector, supplying more than 60 customers in both public and private sectors.

Its products for legal practice and case management, including cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions, are used by customers to automate day-to-day processes for improved services and increased productivity.

The company is said to have continued to perform well in 2016, with customers in private practice, local government and commercial sectors, including new business wins such as Cumbria County Council and system implementations including Parisi Tax LLP and United Utilities.

Simon Downing, chief executive of Civica, said: “I am delighted to welcome Norwel to the Civica Group. IT systems have an increasingly important role to play in delivering improved performance and efficiency in a changing legal sector.

“Norwel brings specialist expertise to extend our position in the sector, and the combined business is very well placed to respond to the needs of customers to do more, do better and spend less.”

Alan Richardson, managing director of Norwel, said: “This is a very positive development for customers, partners and employees. The combination of Norwel’s sector expertise and Civica’s breadth and depth of capability creates a stronger legal IT partner at an important time for the sector.

“We look forward to building on our joint strengths and vision in order to deliver increasing value to customers.”

Norwel’s says it latest generation Prescient+ system provides a “comprehensive yet flexible” suite of case management and practice management software, including the Desktop Online portal for delivery of online client services via a secure web interface.

The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

@AntonySavvas