Jobs created as Lake Legal launches

FORMER Watson Burton staff Lyn Ayrton and Karen Eckstein have launched a new Yorkshire law firm which has created nine jobs.

Lake Legal specialises in family law, headed by Ms Ayrton, and tax litigation, professional indemnity, contentious trust and probate, headed by Ms Eckstein. 

The firm is based in Fountain House in Leeds and has been launched with backing from The Royal Bank of Scotland.

The two Lake Legal managing partners have more than 40 years’ legal experience between them and have held senior management roles in other law firms, most recently at Watson Burton.  

Ms Ayrton said: “It’s a really exciting time for us. Ownership of our own practice is an important milestone in both of our careers and we are looking forward to growing and developing the business and building on our existing strengths and shaping the company’s future strategy. 

“We have an extremely energetic and passionate team in place that is eager to work with us to take the business forward to ensure its success.”   

    
The funding package for the deal was put together by David Smithies, from the RBS Commercial Banking team in Leeds.

John Holroyd from Mazars in Leeds undertook the financial due diligence.   

Mr Smithies said: “Lyn and Karen impressed us with their knowledge and appetite for the industry and their passion for starting their own practice. 

“With a good operating model in place, the practice has great potential and we look forward to working with Lyn and Karen as it evolves.”