Legal news: Trust boost for Pannone; Darbys & more

SIMON Pedley and Nicola Marchant partners at Manchester firm Pannone  have become the UK’s first private practice solicitors to be awarded the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) advanced certificate in Mediation.

The pair, who lead the firm’s contentious trusts and estates team, advise clients on complex UK and off-shore trust disputes.

The latest endorsement comes after the pair were were awarded the STEP advanced certificate in Trust Disputes in 2011.

Mr Pedley said “We are both delighted to achieve this second STEP qualification, which cements the team’s credentials as genuine specialists in this unusual and difficult area of law.”

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DARBYS, which has a growing North West office in Hale, has announced a 40% increase in half-year revenue.

The firm which has its roots in Oxford and also has an office in Colchester said first half revenue grew year-on-year from £4m to £5.7m.

Managing partner Simon McCrum said: “We spent  a lot of time, energy, and money getting the business into a certain shape, and it now seems to be firing all cylinders and the investment is turning into a good return.

“Growth of 35% last year and 40% this year hugely outperforms the sector average of around 2%.”

He said growth was being seen across Darbys’ business and private client divisions, with 13 of its 15 teams showing increased turnover and gross profit on the same time last year.

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CORPORATE associate Mark Traynor from Brabners acted for Manchester car dealership group Lookers on its £3m disposal of two Volkswagen dealerships in Lincolnshire to listed rival Vertu Motors.