Third office opening marks further growth for start-up law firm

A law firm established by three young residential property and finance experts is targeting further growth with the opening of a third office, less than two years after launching.

Holden Smith, based in Denby Dale, is set to launch an office on Victoria Road in Elland at the start of August.

The move comes less than two months after the firm opened its second office in the Crossgates area of Leeds.

The company, which was founded by James Smith, 31, David Bancroft, 35, and Jamie Megson, 32, has experienced rapid growth since launching in February 2019.

Employee numbers have grown from three to 20 people and the directors say the firm is on track to turn over £1m by the end of its second financial year.

Director and co-founder, David Bancroft, said: “Our new Elland office will be home to around eight members of the Holden Smith team.

“We have a strong business network in and around Calderdale and having an office there will allow us to develop our presence further.

“We’ve been extremely busy with new instructions since returning to work following the first wave of COVID-19 and we can only see ourselves getting busier.

“We are very passionate about what we do and are tenacious about growing the business over the next five-or-so years.”

James Smith added: “We are looking to open further offices in places like Sheffield and Barnsley and we might move into North Yorkshire by acquisition.

“In five years’ time we hope to be operating in every area of law and have six or seven different branches with around 50 to 70 staff and a turnover touching £5m.”

Smith is president of The Huddersfield and Dewsbury Incorporated Law Society and specialises in commercial and residential property, with clients including developers, buy-to-let portfolio investors, landlords and housing associations.

Bancroft previously managed a team of 45 people as head of residential property at a Leeds-based firm. He has over 16 years’ experience in the residential sector and works with a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals.

Megson has 13 years’ experience in financial services, previously working as an independent financial adviser and now specialising as a mortgage broker.

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