Legal news: Garratts rebrands; Freeths & more
A REGIONAL legal practice is poised for growth after undergoing a restructure and name change.
Formerly known as Gruber Garratt and latterly as Quality Solicitors Gruber Garratt, the five office practice will now be known simply as Garratts.
With 65 staff based at Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Worsley, Radcliffe and Stalybridge, Garratts’ name change was sparked by the retirement of one of the founding partners and by the firm deciding to leave QS, a national network of legal practices.
Managing partner Stephen Garratt explains: “Quite simply, we want to focus on developing our own brand at a local rather than national level. Being masters of our own destiny means we’ll be able to service clients in a way we know they appreciate. Whether individuals or businesses, we know they value sound legal advice and great service delivered in a straight-forward way.”
The firm has also unveiled a brand new corporate identity and launched a website.
Mr Garratt added: “We’re very excited about the launch of our new brand. We looked at lots of different names but agreed that an element of continuity was needed which is why we decided to simply become Garratts.
“A lot more thought went into our corporate identity and strapline. The logo is an abstract pair of wings which represent Jupiter, the god of justice, and also symbolises our newfound freedom. The look is modern yet friendly, which we know reflects our practice.”
This week the firm has also promoted three solicitors to equity partners. They are: Frances Greenhalgh, head of the firm’s Care department; criminal and mental health expert Deborah Cartledge and Angela Smith, head of the firms wills and probate department.
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STEPHENSONS Solicitors has invested in ultra high-definition 4k video for its website.
Stephensons, which delivers services nationwide from its 10 offices, has launched its latest customer videowhich has been delived by Cheshire and Manchester-based legal online marketing agency mmadigital.
Sarah Boustouller, partner and head of Marketing at Stephensons, said: “We believe video to be a crucial communication channel to assist clients and other stakeholders in understanding the services we deliver and how we can help them.”
Matt Davies, head of video at mmadigital, added “As broadband and Internet speeds on portable devices increase, the focus will naturally shift to higher quality content. 4K is set to become the norm in 2015 and will replace Blu-ray.”
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FREETHS has advised on a property deal worth £84m with the acquisition of more than 50 business centre properties across the UK.
The firm, which has offices across England including Manchester, advised its client Bridges Ventures on all the commercial and property aspects of the complex deal.
More than 2,000 business tenants were involved in the process, operating out of services office centres, light/industrial workshop units, self storage and other high quality commercial premises designed for SMEs in the Midlands, the North and Scotland.
Led by Chris Freeston (commercial) Adam Watson (property) and Kate Hillier (commercial), a team of more than 20 solicitors in Freeths’ offices in Manchester, Nottingham, London, Manchester, Oxford and Leicester, worked alongside Bridges to secure the deal to acquire the Evans Easyspace property portfolio from Regus.
North West properties acquired included: The Sycamore Trading Estate, Squires Gate Lane in Blackpool; Lythgoe House in Bolton; land and buildings lying on the north east side of Robin Bank Road, Darwen, near Blackburn; Amy Johnson Way, Squires Gate Lane in Blackpool; Pioneer Business Centre, North Road, Ellesmere Port; Deeside Estate, Queensferry; and The Generate Centre, Dane Street, Rochdale.
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MORECROFTS Solicitors has been appointed to the legal panel of national LGBT domestic violence charity Broken Rainbow.
Morecrofts’ family law team has extensive experience of dealing with domestic violence cases and the agreement will allow victims using Broken Rainbow from Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire to receive a free 30-minute consultation.
Alison Lobb, managing partner of Morecrofts, said: “At every level of the firm, we have an unwavering commitment to investing in diverse communities and supporting victims of abuse or violence regardless of their background, gender or sexuality.
“Broken Rainbow does some incredible work in helping people in the LGBT community to combat prejudice and intimidation and we feel an enormous sense of pride that they have entrusted us to stand side by side with them in protecting the most vulnerable members of that community.”
Morecrofts is headquartered in Liverpool and also has offices in Wirral, Crosby, Allerton, Woolton and London.
