Newtons snaps up another law firm

NEWTONS Solicitors Group has opened its seventh office with the acquisition of a Yorkshire Dales law firm.

The Knaresborough business, led by legal entrepreneur Chris Newton and his wife Sarah, has acquired private client law firm, Geoffrey Mochrie Solicitors in Leyburn.

Geoffrey Mochrie Solicitors, which has two partners, Geoffrey Mochrie and Frances Maxwell, also has three support staff and a £300,000 turnover. The practice, founded in 1978, provides private client services including wills, lasting powers of attorney and court of protection, family law and residential property conveyancing.

As part of the deal, Geoffrey Mochrie and Frances Maxwell will continue to be based in Leyburn and Frances Maxwell will become a director of Newtons Solicitors Group which also has offices in Harrogate, Ripon and York, as well as in Darlington and Richmond following the acquisition of Hodgsons & Mortimer Solicitors earlier this year.

The latest acquisition will take Newtons Solicitors Group’s turnover over £2.5m in annual fee income, half way towards its medium-term goal of reaching a £5m turnover.

Chris Newton said: “This latest acquisition gives us a great foothold to expand into the Dales. Local reaction is very positive and we hope to use the Leyburn presence to attract more local commercial and agricultural work to our group. 

“The practice is already introducing new clients to Newtons Solicitors Group for legal services which they could not previously access, including litigation and commercial law.                                   

“It is great to have such an experienced, locally respected law firm as part of our group. We are now looking to expand further and are in talks with three other law firms across the region.”

Geoffrey Mochrie added: “It is very exciting to become part of a fast-growing practice. I’m looking forward to being able to offer a full service to our clients and seeing our Leyburn office grow.” 

Newtons Solicitors was founded by Chris and Sarah Newton in 2009 and operates across a spectrum of commercial and private law legal disciplines.