Accountancy and advisory group S&W has agreed to acquire Shepherd Private Clients, a specialist private client tax advisory firm based in Greater Manchester.

The deal, announced on 6 November, adds 15 staff and strengthens S&W’s tax capabilities across the North West. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Shepherd Private Clients was founded in 2018 by Andrew Shepherd. The firm advises high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs and their businesses, as well as trusts and charities, across the North West, the UK and internationally. Its team includes executive director Rebecca Hunt.

Growth in Manchester

The acquisition follows S&W’s move in May 2026 to a larger Manchester office at Pall Mall on King Street, doubling its footprint in the city. The deal expands the firm’s ability to offer clients integrated tax, audit, advisory, business outsourcing and consulting services in the region.

Chris Shepard, head of private client tax services at S&W, said he was delighted to welcome the team, adding that the addition “strengthens our offering, broadens our reach and creates exciting opportunities for both our clients and our people as we continue to grow.”

Regional managing partner Donna Bulmer called the North West “an important market for S&W.”

Acquisition-led expansion

S&W relaunched as an independent firm in 2024, backed by funds advised by Apax Partners, and has since pursued rapid acquisition-led expansion, including moves into Scotland and France and further additions in tax and consulting.

The Shepherd deal fits a broader pattern in the UK accountancy market, where mid-market groups have been combining with specialist firms to widen their services and deepen their regional reach. For S&W, the purchase adds local expertise and capacity in private client tax, a service line where demand from wealthy individuals, families and business owners remains strong.

Private client tax advice covers personal tax planning for individuals and families, including income tax, capital gains, inheritance planning and the tax affairs of trusts. Firms in this area typically work with business owners around the sale of a company, families passing on wealth, and individuals with property or investments in more than one country.

The firm said the 15 new colleagues would significantly strengthen its tax capabilities in Manchester and support its ambitious growth plans across the North West. The acquisition gives S&W a larger team on the ground in Greater Manchester at a time when it is investing in the region, following the expansion of its King Street office earlier this year.