West Midlands law firm reaches £1m annual fee income for the first time

PRIVATE client law firm Meridian Private Client has announced record annual fee income of £1m a decade after the firm was founded.

The firm – based in Little Packington, near Solihull – specialises in estate and long-term tax planning for individuals and families.

It has reported invoiced sales for its financial year ended 30 September 2014 of £1,000,526, an increase of just over 5% compared with the previous year’s figure.

The financial progress has been reported as the firm launches a new initiative aimed at extending its offering to individuals and families with between £1m and £5m of total assets. 

The new focus is being spearheaded by Peter Gate, an associate at the firm, and solicitor Vicki Bennett.

Partner Philip Harrison said: “Hitting the £1m fee income mark tops off a successful decade for us as a specialist private client law firm.”

He said that the decision to broaden the firm’s offering is a strategic move. 

“Estate planning generally and inheritance tax planning in particular has become even more significant as the economy has recovered,” he said. 

“Valuations of assets including houses and businesses are increasing rapidly and this is already leading to more people needing to review their plans or being caught up to a greater extent in the inheritance tax net.

“The consequences are far reaching for the families of business owners and others.

“Early planning will make a huge difference for these families and this is where our new initiative comes in.”