What’s more, last year the firm’s net profit soared from £2.4m to £3.7m.
And making the most of these profits, the firm has invested in hiring no less than 17 staff in the past nine months, bringing its headcount to 138 fee-earners. It has also made two important additions to its internal management team in the form of Paul Harker as the firm’s new head of IT last July and Rob Adams, the firm’s first head of risk and compliance, in January.
While things have not always been rosy at the firm - 16 members of staff had to be let go in 2010 - senior partner Romaine Thompson maintains that a confident approach has been vital in the ups and downs of recent years.
“We’ve stuck at what we think is the right thing to do and the key has been not to lose our nerve and follow the market, but to keep looking to find solutions to needs rather than sell something that is not needed,” she stresses.
The firm’s niche expertise in areas such as social housing, health and social care, local government, education and faith communities has also helped it to stand out and it was this rather unusual mix of skill sets that secured the firm’s recent mandate acting for Staffordshire County Council as it embarked on a £230m landmark NHS project - the largest integration of council and NHS services in England to date.
While Thompson insists there is no “magic formula” that has driven the firm’s success in the past 14 years, incremental changes such as the firm’s new IT strategy that will come into force later this year have helped make it a desirable working environment and consolidate its reputation.
A number of the recent hires have been lawyers returning to the firm, something Thompson finds deeply encouraging.
“People move for all kinds of reasons and it’s been such a positive thing to see people choosing to return to the firm - it must mean we’re doing something right,” she says.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 will apply to all new specified tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
We've been producing ebriefings and advice about covid-19 where we can, and we've issued a lot this week. If you've missed any, we've compiled them here.
Late last night (26 March) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) issued a guidance note regarding Court Service.
What is the correct approach for contracting authorities to adopt during these times, to navigate effectively the urgency of the situation alongside the legal duties on public sector organisations?
As some of us bemoan the withdrawal of one daily episode of the Archers, it is a reminder that no industry will be untouched by the Coronavirus and its effects. The pensions industry is no exception.
In this our third Coronavirus briefing, we will address the latest employment developments and their implications for employers and employees.
The Charity Commission has issued two guidance notes reassuring charities of its flexible and pragmatic approach at this uncertain time.
During this period of uncertainty, many of you are unsure as to how the new government measures will affect respective parents spending time with their children.
Last week, the Lord Chancellor approved the issue of the Pilot Practice Direction, which affects the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal (mental health).
Employers should not undervalue the risks that lone working can pose to the health and safety of its employees.
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