Two law firms open Harrogate offices

TWO law firms have launched Harrogate offices within weeks of each other to expand on regional work.

Leeds law firms Winston Solicitors and Consilia Legal have both added to their networks with offices in the spa town.

Winston, which was founded in 2002, has a number of North Yorkshire-based clients and wanted to expand in a local setting.

Consilia Legal will open a specialist family law mediation division at its new Harrogate office, following a relocation to new premises in Park Place in Leeds earlier this year.

The Harrogate office of Consilia will launch in January 2017 and will be headed up by directors Laura Clapton and Sally Clark.

Ms Clapton said: “There has been a significant increase regionally in the number of people using mediation as an alternative to court to resolve issues during divorce and separation.

“The trend is being driven by a number of things, including the withdrawal of legal aid for the majority of family law cases and a growing awareness of the impact conflict can have on children.”

Jonathan Winston and Mark Fagan of Winston Solcitors outside their new Harrogate office