Trio invest £500,000 to launch tech-focused legal firm
A trio of residential property and finance specialists have invested over £500,000 to launch a technology-focused law firm in West Yorkshire.
James Smith, Dave Bancroft and Jamie Megson are behind the new firm, Holden Smith Law, which is based in Denby Dale.
The firm will initially focus on delivering residential property services across West Yorkshire, with plans to expand into other areas of law soon. Holden Smith Law will use technology to create a “much-needed shift towards a focus on client experience in the legal sector”.
Megson is a qualified financial adviser and will also run a mortgage broking service from the Denby Dale office.
Smith said: “Our combined 35 years’ experience has demonstrated clearly that there is a much-needed requirement to ensure customer service is the number one priority in the legal sector.
“Our investment embodies this, by providing clients with instant communication on their matter using apps and online portals, combined with efficient face-to-face communication which is still vital in the process.”
Smith is vice president of Huddersfield Law Society and was previously head of the Huddersfield branch of a Leeds solicitors. Smith specialises in commercial and residential property, with clients including developers, buy-to-let portfolio investors, landlords and housing associations.
Bancroft added: “Previously, a lack of technology has held us back in our roles. In our sector, accuracy and quality of work should be a given, but communicating effectively with the client about what’s happening during the process is where the new focus needs to be and is what will make us stand out.”
Bancroft previously managed a team of 45 as head of residential property at the same Leeds-based firm. Bancroft has over 16 years’ experience in the residential sector and also works with a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals.
Megson concluded: “We are delighted to bring Holden Smith to the market following months of planning and hard work. We believe our experience, combined with the forward-thinking, technology-savvy approach we have applied to business, will offer something different that puts us at the forefront of client experience.
Megson has 13 years’ experience in financial services, previously working as an IFA and now specialising as a mortgage broker.
He added: “Our reputation has already seen us secure a number of instructions prior to our official opening, and we have recruited three new members of staff with plans to create an additional five jobs by the end of 2019.”
