Carbon Law Partners – an innovative law firm that has remodelled the way a legal practice works by enabling its lawyers to align the way they operate with their clients – is establishing its UK HQ in Cardiff.
Carbon Law Partners, co-founded by City lawyer Michael Burne and banking director Owain Saunders-Jones, launched its new business model last year following a period of detailed market research.
Backed by £325,000 business finance from the Welsh Government, Carbon Law Partners is moving from its initial base in Cowbridge to Cardiff city centre where it will create 25 jobs and roll out its pan-UK service with plans for satellite offices in key centres around the country.
Carbon Law Partners, an SRA regulated law firm, has developed a business model designed to appeal to lawyers who want more freedom and control over how they build their practices backed by industry leading support services.
Carbon Law Partners is a firm of like-minded leading corporate and commercial lawyers with access to all the support facilities available in a top 100 commercial practice as well as the benefits of using the Carbon Law Partners brand.
Resources provided include a secure hosted platform, state of the art practice management system, compliance management tools, a comprehensive online legal library and precedent services as well as dedicated support staff who handle billing and credit control.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “The legal sector is a key element of the rapidly growing financial and professional services sector in Wales and one we want to develop and expand. We are actively identifying opportunities for UK and International law firms to base high quality and cost effective support functions in Wales.
“I welcome the decision by Carbon Law Partners to establish its UK headquarters in Cardiff which will help raise the profile of what Wales can offer the sector and I wish them every success in the future.”
Chief Executive Michael Burne said Carbon Law Partners offer an innovative approach to legal services by using a platform that is enterprise grade, scalable and flexible. “This enables our lawyers to concentrate on doing great work for clients while offering very commercial pricing structures. At the same time the structure of the firm enables its lawyers to retain the majority of the fees they generate with clients,” he explained
The firm plans to recruit 50 partners over the next five years and is already ahead of schedule having recruited 10 new partners in less than a year from a standing start.
Michael Burne added: “We are very proud to have created more partners in the last nine months than any other law firm in Cardiff. Our aim is to help lawyers invest in themselves by building their careers, practices and client relationships with the support of Carbon Law Partners.
“We have ambitious plans for the business, with international aspirations. We are very grateful for the support from the Welsh Government and the City of Cardiff Council. Cardiff is an ideal location for our business. Our roots are firmly based here. We see Cardiff as the long term home of our firm and we intend to build the business from Wales.”
Cllr Phil Bale, Leader of the City of Cardiff Council, said: “The City of Cardiff Council have been delighted to support Welsh Government with regard to encouraging Carbon Law Partners to place their new investment in the heart of Cardiff.
“We are particularly pleased that the firm is investing in a new platform which provides the Legal Sector across the UK with opportunities to outsource and Improve their efficiencies and cost base.”