Leading East Yorkshire firm, Williamsons Solicitors, has recently completed the acquisition of a Hull-based criminal law practice, Amber Solicitors LLP, in a deal that has been widely hailed as a ‘coup’.
Amber Solicitors LLP, comprising well-known solicitors Ian Phillip and Richard Fowler, became part of Williamsons on 1 August. The acquisition has created East Yorkshire’s most experienced defence advocacy team.
Both Williamsons Solicitors and Amber Solicitors have earned a stellar reputation in criminal law over several decades. Williamsons, with offices in Hull, Driffield, and Bridlington, also offers an extensive range of private client services. This acquisition is expected to create a powerhouse of legal expertise, benefiting clients from both firms.
Marc Pollard, the acting head of Williamsons’ criminal law department, said: “Both Ian and Richard have a fantastic reputation and they will fit in perfectly as we have a shared ideology and an established relationship through many years of working in Hull and surrounding areas. It’s a real coup for us and we are very excited to have them on board.”
Richard and Ian, who founded Amber Solicitors in the late 1990s, have gained recognition for challenging authority and passionately fighting for the underdog. Ian became one of the youngest solicitor advocates in the city and has worked on many high-profile cases, with Richard mainly working ‘at the coal face’ of criminal law.
Richard said: “We are very proud of our reputation, so it was important that we became part of an equally well-respected and principled firm.
“It will also provide Ian and I with the opportunity to give back a little by helping a new generation of criminal lawyers through Williamsons’ excellent training schemes.”
He added that joining Williamsons would allow for expansion and the ability to provide clients with ‘global’ representation through Williamsons Solicitors’ wide range of law services.
Neil Waterhouse, Williamsons Solicitors’ operations director, said that growth of criminal law departments was uncommon in the current era of cuts to legal aid. He said, “With the acquisition of Amber, we now have combined expertise which is unrivalled locally. We provide an essential service to people who are in urgent need of expert legal representation, and it is vital that we ensure its longevity through smart ways of working and providing career opportunities.”
Visit the Williamson Solicitors site for more information.
