Client growth underpins Thrings’ expansion plans

Simon Holdsworth, Thrings. Credit: Professional Images/@ProfImages

Leading commercial law firm Thrings is to open a new office in the south of England as part of its ongoing plans for expansion.

Thrings is set to increase its geographical presence and add strength and depth to its existing teams when it opens new premises in Southampton in October.

Initially the office will focus on agriculture, landed estates and private client work. It will also enable Thrings, which has the largest specialist agricultural team of any law firm in the UK, to strengthen its links with the farming community in the south-east, where it is a member of the NFU Legal Panel for seven counties.

The expansion of Thrings’ footprint – its UK network includes offices in Bath, Bristol, Swindon and London – comes amid a period of sustained growth for the firm, which has undergone a thirty-five-per-cent increase in turnover over the past three years.

Thrings has also continued to invest in its staff over the past twelve months, adding further experience to existing teams with the appointment of legal specialists Caroline Watson and Ben Tarrant as partners, and promoting four associate solicitors to the Thrings partnership.

In May, meanwhile, the firm introduced a brand new role to its career structure by appointing four senior solicitors – Charlotte Barrett, Robert Barnes, Charles Wakefield and Anna Patterson – to the position of legal director.

The opening of the new office in Southampton is also expected to lead to Thrings making further senior appointments.

Simon Holdsworth, recently re-elected as Thrings’ managing partner for his second three-year term, said: “The UK’s decision to leave the EU has heralded a period of unprecedented economic and political uncertainty for businesses in this country. This includes law firms, who will need to adopt a range of strategies – including organic growth, mergers, acquisitions and bolt-ons – to achieve the so-called growth imperative in what is an ever-changing and increasingly competitive legal landscape.

“In addition to offering bespoke, transparent pricing options, we have continued to invest heavily in IT, systems and processes, reviewed our recruitment and talent retention strategies, and identified ways to offer more commercial services to new and long-term clients. This has enabled us to deliver a higher level of service in line with our clients’ specific legal needs.

“We are tremendously excited about opening our new office in Southampton, which we believe will allow the firm to further strengthen its agriculture, landed estates and private client offerings in the south of England, build on the strong links we have in the region, and work alongside our clients as they continue to capitalise on growth opportunities.”