Partner Article

Leonard Curtis Legal increase headcount to five

Launched just three months ago Leonard Curtis Legal (LCL), the legal services division of Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group (LCBSG), has taken its team to five.

Dominic Vincent is the latest recruit, formerly regional head of the Restructuring Team at Weightmans, who will add a significant level of expertise to the team. He joins Senior Associate Jennifer Moore, paralegals Jennifer Fell and Rachel Connor with Managing Director Andrew Gregory overseeing service delivery and business development.

Andrew commented: “We have taken the decision to recruit at a senior level earlier than planned due to the volume of work coming from the 12 offices of Leonard Curtis around the UK as well as its referral base of accountants and solicitors. The interest has been fantastic.”

The firm has taken additional space in its office building at 3 Hardman Square in Manchester to accommodate the growing team.

Dominic commented: “I am delighted to be joining such a busy group of lawyers and a new brand of law firm. I see this as a very exciting opportunity to deliver legal services in a different way.”

Andrew again: “The ABS (Alternative Business Structures) model allows us to work with the solicitors instructed by the directors of Leonard Curtis on cases where they are acting. It also allows us to provide advice and support to the members of Lifecycle, the Group’s referral network of accountants – now at over 600 UK-wide - as well as lenders.”

Recent work for the LCL team includes the resolution of a shareholder dispute, advice to a board of directors on their duties as directors of a distressed business and resolution of a dispute for a foreign-based client following the presentation of a winding up petition.

Andrew again: “In a number of cases we have partnered with law firms to provide specialist advice at a competitive price as part of an overall package to give the client a complete solution.”

It’s a joint venture partner approach which Andrew thinks is the way forward to deliver legal services to the SME community. He said: “We have already had approaches from a number of similar businesses, also authorised to operate as an ABS, who share our vision of a partner-led service to deliver legal solutions on a value for money basis.”

LCBSG Director Daniel Booth said appetite for advice around the Group had been encouraging. “The level and quality of enquiries is good and has prompted sooner than expected investment in more legal expertise to meet demand. A multi-disciplinary professional services approach is now a reality for us and we are fast learning how to take advantage of the opportunities being created.”

More recruits are expected to be announced in the early part of 2017.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .