‘New era’ at Manchester legal design agency as CEO completes MBO

There’s a “new chapter” at Manchester design agency for the legal sector, Epigram, as current CEO Susan Siddall has completed her buyout of the shares of retiring founder Nicky Owen, bringing the agency under her sole ownership.

The agency said in a statement: “We’re thrilled to announce that our CEO Susan Siddall has taken full ownership of Epigram through a management buyout as our founder, Nicky Owen, steps into retirement. With Susan at the helm since 2018, we’ve expanded our portfolio and worked with some incredible global brands. As we embark on this new chapter, we remain committed to delivering the creativity and quality our clients know and love. Here’s to the future!”

The MBO completes a succession plan that was first put into place with Siddall’s arrival at Epigram in 2018.

Owen founded Epigram in 1993, and in the intervening three decades the agency has worked with big legal names including Linklaters, DWF, DLA Piper, Addleshaw Goddard, Eversheds Sutherland and Osborne Clarke.

Since Siddal joined the business, she has helped diversify Epigram’s portfolio, landing appointment to the Cultural Campaign supporting the Commonwealth Games in 2022, as well as bringing on board regional law firms including Pannone Corporate, Rusell Cooke and Taylor Wessing.

Siddall added: “It is very much business as usual and we will continue to operate with the same team of talented designers, values and culture that have made Epigram such a trusted and respected creative partner over the last 30 years.”