Yorkshire law firm acquires North West legal practice
YORKSHIRE law firm Simpson Millar has acquired North West firm Maxwell Gillott Solicitors (MG Law) in a move to build a stronger presence in the healthcare and education sector.
MG Law, which is based in Lancaster and acts for clients across the UK, is one of the country’s leading suppliers of legal advice to individuals on the provision of services by the education, health and community care sectors.
Simpson Millar, which has its head office in Leeds, has acquired all shares in the company and although it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the law firm, it will continue trading under the MG Law brand.
Peter Watson, Simpson Millar’s managing partner, said: “MG Law and its people are associated with quality advice, and with having an in-depth understanding and experience in key care sectors. That is what we want to build on.”
Simpson Millar has already signed a deal for an additional floor in MG Law’s existing office in Lancaster and Mr Watson has big ambitions for the new venture – confident that the annual turnover of around £600,000 will reach the £1million mark within 24 months.
“MG law is an excellent firm with an ethos that fits in very well with what we are all about; looking after disadvantaged individuals and families who need the best help and advice to make their everyday life a little easier. Elaine Maxwell, Emily Gent and their team are amongst a select group of specialist lawyers in the UK with experience in this field and it is a real pleasure to welcome them on board,” he added.
Elaine Maxwell is nationally recognised as a leading practitioner in education law. In 1998 she set up her own specialist law firm dealing solely with education and community care and expanded into healthcare under the Maxwell Gillott brand in 2003. She is now looking forward to further growth with the support of the team at Simpson Millar.
“This is an exciting move for us and I have no doubt that our clients will benefit from having the support of a firm such as Simpson Millar with a solid, national infrastructure and significant technical resources,” she said.
MG Law is fully franchised by the Legal Services Commission in the areas of education, clinical negligence and community care which complements Simpson Millar’s existing clinical negligence franchise.
Both law firms are also on the Legal Services Commission’s Community Legal Advice panel where experts from MG Law answer questions on Education law and Simpson Millar advises callers on Employment related issues.
