Local accountancy firm acquires former rival in Barnard Castle

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Law LLP has assisted Butler & Gee Accountants in taking the reins of former competitor Michael Hanby Accountants allowing Michael to retire after more than 25 years.

Following the acquisition, Butler & Gee Accountants will continue to provide services from its premises at 7 Newgate in the town.

Chris Butler, one of the directors at Butler & Gee, said: “We’re really delighted Michael chose Butler & Gee to take on his clients and to look after them going forward and apply the same principles and standards that our existing clients benefit from.”

The practice is operated from both Barnard Castle and Shotley Bridge and headed by directors Chris, Darren Gee and Pauline Henderson.

The corporate team of North East law firm Tilly Bailey & Irvine, which recently celebrated more than 175 years in business, represented Butler & Gee Accountants in the deal.

Corporate solicitor Michael Stevens, based at the commercially-focussed Wynyard office of Tilly Bailey & Irvine, added: “It was great to work with another professional services firm based nearby to our own firm’s Barnard Castle office.

“Michael had an established bank of clients who he had worked with for a long period of time. The process went really smoothly and it’s great to know that those clients will get the same level of professionalism in the same locality.”