Midlands-based commercial law firm Knights Solicitors has secured external investment from a private equity house headed up by ex-Dragons’ Den star James Caan.

The investment by Hamilton Bradshaw, which the firms say represents the first private investment into a commercial law firm, will be used by Knights as part of its bid to join the UK top 100 law firms by revenue within three years. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.