By: 20 January 2021
Consilia Legal expands after strong 12 months

Leeds- and Harrogate-based employment and family law firm Consilia Legal has promoted Andy Boyde and recruited its first non-fee earning employee.

Boyde (pictured) was promoted to senior associate in the firm’s employment law team.

Marie Walsh, director and head of the team, says: “We are delighted to internally progress our solicitors and this promotion is thoroughly deserved. Andy has been a key contributor to the growth of the firm, both in terms of client work and mentoring the junior members of the team.”

“He has also put a great deal of effort into building a community around his rugby background and worked in collaboration with other professionals building his already robust reputation in the region.”

Boyde adds: “The past 12 months for the employment team collectively have been hugely rewarding, in what has been a challenging landscape for our sector in light of the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.”

“On a personal level, it is humbling to be recognised for my individual contribution to the employment team. I am immensely proud of the work the team has done to advise and inform clients, contacts and referrers through such turbulent and uncertain times.”

“Looking to the future, I am hoping that we can soon return to some sort of normality. I am excited by the prospect of mentoring Matthew Bretherick through his training contract, which commenced this month, and also Kieran Conlon in his role as a paralegal. “

Consilia Legal also recruited Melanie Deyes as practice manager.

On the recruitment of Deyes, Laura Clapton, co-founder of Consilia Legal, says the time had come for the firm “to expand and streamline” its practice management processes.

She continues: “Melanie fits the culture of the firm and brings all the right skills. We are thrilled that she accepted the role and we know she will make it her own.”

Deyes says: “I’m hugely excited to be joining Consilia Legal and supporting the team to deliver their ambitious business plan this year. Starting a new job in the current climate is certainly a challenge but the team has made me so welcome, I definitely know it was the right decision. I’m really looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2021 brings and making a contribution to the firm.”

The past 12 months were strong for Consilia Legal, despite the challenges brought by the pandemic.

The firm completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme and was shortlisted in a number of categories at the Yorkshire Legal Awards, winning the Employment Law Award.

Consilia Legal also launched an online mediation platform and began trialling a four-day working week.

Walsh believes a shorter working week is the future of smaller legal practices. She says: “We want to attract and retain talent. We can’t always compete with the salaries offered by larger firms. However, what we can offer is a generous bonus structure, a good basic pay level and more importantly a great work life balance, giving fee earners independence and control over their working patterns more easily.”

Commenting on what is in store for Consilia Legal, Walsh says: “Like all small business owners, we have found this last year difficult, mostly so in terms of communication and retention of employees.”

“Looking forward to 2021, however, we have a robust business plan in place which involves expansion in terms of team numbers and financial growth and Laura, the team and I are looking forward to putting it into practice.”