Law firm makes top appointment on back of record-breaking results

Lucy Worrall

Anthony Collins Solicitors has appointed partner Lucy Worrall to its Manchester office on the back on another record-breaking year.

Overall, the group has added a further 31 staff, including three partners, and invested in the new Manchester office in King Street during the year.

Lucy, formerly head of housing and regeneration (property) at Forbes Solicitors, is the latest recruit to the Manchester office, which opened in January, and has already grown to eight staff.

Ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners, and a Leading Individual by Legal 500, Lucy joins the firm to continue to build the social housing practice and expand its team in the North West.

Bringing experience in development and regeneration to the social housing team, she will build on the firm’s national sector profile and work closely with local authority colleagues at the firm to support the need to deliver further social housing across the North West.

Anthony Collins Solicitors, which now has 318 staff, measured its social purpose achievements by publishing its first-ever social impact report.

Details from the report highlight its role in establishing and registering 120 new charities, while also helping housing associations source £1.2bn to build 12,240 homes.

This social impact has been mirrored by strong yearly financial results, which reveal an increase in turnover to £20.2m for 2018/19 – with a 22% growth curve over three years from £16.6m in 2016/17 – as well as a profit of £4.4m.

After successfully leading the firm for five years, Peter Hubbard has also been reappointed to a second term as senior partner.

Jonathan Cox, head of the Manchester office and head of social housing, said: “By investing in a Manchester office, and publishing our inaugural social impact report, the firm is cementing its national credentials.

“We are now attracting talented people like Lucy from across the country who want to work for a social purpose law firm – we’ve hit our initial targets for growth in our Manchester office 18 months early.”

He added: “The firm’s financial performance demonstrates that pursuing a social purpose helps commercial success in today’s society.

“By measuring our social impact, we have been able to demonstrate the ultimate value of providing legal advice and support to our clients and continue to stand out as a unique firm.

“We share our clients’ passion for change and through close partnerships have been able to develop unrivalled expertise in sectors such as housing, local government, charities and social care.

“We welcome Lucy and her experience to our growing Manchester team.”

Lucy Worrall said: “Working for a law firm dedicated to delivering social purpose as well as social housing presented an enticing opportunity.

“I’m excited to join Anthony Collins Solicitors at a time of continued growth and use my experience to deliver the firm’s purpose, making a real difference to people’s lives. I’m looking forward to meeting and supporting clients not just in the North West, but across the UK.”

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