A new year and a new structure at SAS Daniels has proved a great success as the Stockport based legal practice reports Q1 fee growth.
The North West law firm has announced a seven per cent fee rise for its first quarter of 2013 to 31st July, up £110,000 to £1.629 million (against £1.517 million in the corresponding period in 2012). Profits rose 26 per cent in the same period.
The announcement comes as it unveils its new management structure. Jonathan Whittaker becomes senior partner and figurehead of the firm, and a new Strategy Board, guided by ex-Cobbetts managing partner Michael Shaw as an external consultant, has been convened to define the structure and direction of the firm.
Jonathan Whittaker said:
“The legal industry is going through some major changes, and we took the opportunity to look at whether our existing management structure was the right one for us. These changes, with a more collaborative leadership team that brings different partners’ strengths together, means that we are better equipped to deliver legal services with the flexibility our clients are increasingly asking for.
“The firm intends to draw on outside perspectives to help frame our business strategy in the next few years. Michael Shaw is hugely experienced and we are delighted to have him join us.”
Michael Shaw added:
“The leadership team at SAS Daniels comprises partners and professional managers at the top of their game, and that mix of management experience and hands on practice means the company will focus on what’s right for clients. I am delighted to be coming on board at such an exciting time for this dynamic North West law firm.”
As well as an increase in fees, the firm has also been expanding in the first quarter of the new year. Paul Formby joined as an associate in June to help set up an insolvency practice in the dispute resolutions team, whilst Ray Woodward joined the same team as a litigation expert earlier in the month. There have also been promotions to partner for Andrew Clark, and associate for Sarah Jane Dunhill and James Goddard in the Chester office, and in June it became the first law firm in the country to hire an advocate as a permanent member of staff, with Jakki Cowley joining the Macclesfield office.
The company announced a nine per cent increase in fees for the financial year ending April 2013, up to £6.4 million, with profit up eight per cent.
SAS Daniels LLP is organised across six business groups: corporate, employment and HR, litigation, real estate, family and private client. www.sasdaniels.co.uk
The firm is rated amongst the best in the region by Chambers and the Legal 500 – the two leading client guides to the UK legal profession.