Newtons to merge all legal practices into one firm

Newtons Solicitors group has started work to merge its four separate legal practices into a single firm.

The three practices which are being merged into Newtons Solicitors are Hodgsons & Mortimer, which was acquired in 2013 and has offices in Richmond and Darlington; Thorp Parker, based in Stokesley, which was acquired in 2014; and Calder Meynell Solicitors, located in Thirsk and Northallerton, which joined the group in October last year.

The formal mergers are being undertaken as the Newtons Solicitors Group, founded by Chris and Sarah Newton in 2009, has grown to a £4m turnover with almost 100 staff working out of 11 offices across the North East, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

Newtons Solicitors managing director, Chris Newton (pictured) said that while all four firms have been trading under the Newtons Solicitors brand, they have remained separate business entities for a range of commercial reasons. He said these were no longer relevant.

“While this exercise will not make a great deal of external difference to clients and business associates, it is an important stage in our continuing growth, giving us a larger corporate entity to build on as we plan to open at least two new offices this year in the North East and Humberside,” he said.

“During the financial crisis when we continued to see strong growth, people said that once the economic recovery came we would really start to fly – and these mergers are in preparation for this and reaching £5m turnover in 2016.”

Newton has recruited 17 new members of staff in the last six months as well as creating new dedicated posts for marketing and human resources and expanding its compliance and training team. It also has offices in Harrogate, Ilkley, Ripon and York.