Duncan Shepherd looks back at the legal sector in 2015 and views 2016.

Wake Smith Solicitors 22 April 2016

"Since the beginning of 2015 we have seen a marked increase in transactional work acting for buyers, sellers and banks.

"Generally this work involves acting for clients in the manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, IT and professional services and property investment sectors. This stems from the renewed confidence of the banks to lend and businesses carrying out reorganisations with a view to sale in due course.

"In March and April, we have seen a flurry of completions on deals with an aggregate value of over £30 million across a number of these sectors.

"We are also seeing improved intake of cases across several of our other departments and while sectors such as employment and litigation have capacity, we know this is due to the cyclical nature of business. Our diversification means we remain competitive and focused on growth.

"Our commercial property division is taking advantage of a high level of activity in the region with new and exciting companies moving to the area and existing businesses looking to build new projects and add to their portfolio.

"Much of last year was about planning our move into city centre offices, and three months in it is already paying dividends.

"The change has been a big upheaval for the business, but has had many positive benefits. It has forced the company to reassess how it operates, changed the way in which the business is perceived by clients and within the industry, and will provide greater operational efficiency as we are all consolidated into one building after many years of operating from split headquarters.

"Cross referrals and transactions are now much simpler with all our divisions under one roof, and it is proving much easier to bounce ideas off each other.

"The new office is a great showcase for our company's brand, has reinforced our commitment to Sheffield City Region and positions us in much closer proximity to the heart of the city and our business contacts.

"Wake Smith's renewed profile, reinforced by our prestigious workspace at Velocity, is already helping to attract a very high calibre of fee earners and support staff eager to be part of the company's growth.

"We needed the move to confirm our position as a dynamic and progressive law firm, and it has achieved this.

"Generally, I would say that overall, the legal sector is benefiting from the state of the economy with the continued buying and selling aspects for residential, commercial and corporate transactions. To me, it feels like it is moving in the right direction.

"Looking ahead, recent statements about the economy have highlighted that it may not be as buoyant as expected. This may lead to market uncertainty, but for now, we will have to wait and see."

Tags

Archive

March 20247February 20242January 20248December 20236November 20232October 20235September 20232August 20234July 20232June 20235May 20238March 20234February 20235January 20233December 20225November 20224October 20224September 20223August 20221June 20221May 20227April 20223March 20223February 20223January 20224December 20214November 20213October 20215September 20216August 20212July 202111June 20218May 20216April 20212March 20218February 20218January 20219December 20208November 202013October 20209September 20208August 20203July 20208June 202016May 202013April 20209March 202016February 20209January 202011December 20199November 20199October 201911September 20195August 20194July 20196May 20198April 20196March 20193February 20195January 20194December 20186November 20185October 20182September 20185August 20184July 20189June 20184May 201810April 20185March 20184February 20184January 20183December 20175November 20178October 20177September 20179August 20175July 20176June 201710May 20176April 20178March 201711February 20176January 201712December 20169November 20167October 201610September 201610August 20166July 20167June 20163May 20162April 20166March 20162February 20164January 20165December 20153November 20155October 20156September 20156August 20157July 20157June 20157May 20156April 20159March 20156February 201510January 20156December 20145November 20144October 20142September 20143May 20144March 20146February 20144January 20142December 20132November 20133September 20134July 20132June 20132May 20133April 20131March 20133February 20133January 20136December 20121November 20123October 20122August 20122July 20128June 20123April 20123March 20121January 20124December 20112November 20111October 20112September 20113August 20113July 20117June 20119May 20117April 20115March 20119February 20118January 20111December 20101October 20102September 20102August 20103July 20106June 20101May 20102April 20106March 20102February 20103January 20102December 20095November 20092October 20092September 20092August 20091July 20095June 20095May 20093April 20093March 20093February 20091January 20092November 20082October 20082September 20081August 20083July 20081January 20082

Featured Articles

Contact us