Strong growth at Mills & Reeve as it capitalises on Circle Square move
Mills & Reeve has hailed its move to Manchester’s ‘innovation corridor’ as a springboard for growth as it sees fee income and staff numbers rise on the back of client wins in key sectors.
The firm relocated to 1 Circle Square last year at the height of the pandemic in a break away from the traditional law firm heartland.
The move has now paid dividends with a host of client wins and a rise in headcount and fees. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the Manchester office has taken on 35 staff members including two partners. Melanie Grimshaw joined from Pinsent Mason as a partner in the planning team and last month saw the arrival of Claire Gregory, who was also previously at Pinsent Mason, as an environmental partner.
Fee income for the last 12 months is up 13 per cent from the 12-month period prior to the pandemic, a consequence of increased activity from existing clients and several recent wins.
High profile transactions in the last 12 months include advising UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on its £172m investment to create an artificial intelligence and quantum computing centre in Daresbury and acting for Bruntwood SciTech Melbourn Limited on its £46.2m acquisition of Melbourn Science Park. The Manchester office has also been shortlisted in five categories including Large Law Firm of the Year at the upcoming Manchester Legal Awards.
Mills & Reeve celebrated the move recently with a launch party with around 250 guests attending the Circle Square offices.
Chris Ross, head of the Manchester office, said: “The move to Circle Square, which reflects our culture of collaboration and innovation, has been a tremendous success. Headcount and fee income has increased, and we secured several new clients which has boosted our presence in key sectors. Relocating to the Oxford Road corridor fits perfectly with our sector strategy and we are in a strong position to capitalise on our brand and further increase our share of the North West legal market.”
