Fee income up 21% in milestone year for Express

EXPRESS Solicitors, the personal injury law firm, has reported a 21% increase in fee income to £8.7m in a milestone year which saw it become an ABS, refinance and make an acquisition.

The Northenden-based firm said its caseload had grown 45% in the year to March as it snapped up Lavin Copitch Solicitors, secured a £4.1m refinancing package from RBS Corporate and achieve ABS status.

In the same period its team has grown from 130 to 163 employees including 54 fee earners and 15 partners.  Key appointments included partner Ben Gent from Simpson Millar to head its clinical negligence department of nine, including seven fee earners.
Further investment in marketing spend to £2.5m has enabled Express Solicitors to increase PCC and SEO, as well as its stake in the Injury Lawyers 4 U Solicitors Consortium.

Managing partner James Maxey said: “We seem to be saying this every year, but it really has been a fantastic 12 months for us, despite all the changes to the PI landscape and the huge challenges they’ve brought.

“As a firm, we had planned and prepared for LAPSO and the Jackson Reforms, so are in a strong position.  Our ABS licence means we can bring more non-legal professionals into the fold to help us further improve the quality of our services and make more investments.  Our plan is to bring in at least one fee earner per month so we can continue to grow while ensuring our clients get a first class service and the justice they deserve.

“We’ve had consistently strong growth in profitability over the years despite the changes in law that actually make it harder for personal injury law firms to succeed and have a solid growth strategy in place to ensure future success.”