Press Release – September 2023
Ison Harrison’s company and commercial division is on course for a record year following significant revenue growth and a number of key appointments.
The company and commercial department’s turnover for the year to date is currently 78% higher than at the same time in September 2022.
The division comprises litigation, commercial property, company and commercial and employment teams, which have all grown by an average of 27% and the total departmental headcount has increased to 29 employees, making it the firm’s second-largest collective team.
Last year the firm experienced a 67% growth in revenue from commercial services as for the same period in 2021, recording its most profitable year to date. Transaction values for the corporate division have also increased with the team developing a specialism advising business owners on the transition to employee ownership.
Ison Harrison switched to become a 100% employee-owned business in early 2022 after the three shareholder directors agreed to sell the business to an Employee Ownership Trust.
Over the past 18 months, the firm has experienced significant client growth, taking the number to over 20,000, and opened its newest office in Wakefield last year, further strengthening its presence in the region with the addition of its 17th branch. A new regional office opening is also planned for later this year.
New recruits further strengthening the commercial division include partner Lindsay Dixon, a commercial litigation specialist, Manpreet Bhambra, an experienced commercial property solicitor, and employment law paralegal, Tessa Beaumont.
Lindsay Dixon has joined Ison Harrison with extensive experience gained at several prominent Yorkshire-based firms. Her new role will see her deal with a wide range of disputes for individuals and businesses both in and out of Court.
Manpreet Bhambra previously worked at Bury & Walkers LLP and Oakwood Solicitors. Joining the Ison Harrison team in July this year, she deals with all commercial property matters including leasehold management.
Tessa Beaumont will be supporting Ben Palmer, a partner in the company and commercial team, with HR and employment law queries including contractual work and policy documents.
Richard Coulthard, Partner and Head of Commercial services, said:
“We’ve enjoyed solid growth for the past few years and every year we go from strength to strength as the firm continues to expand its commercial offering. Driven by the success we’ve achieved, we continue to bolster this offering, cementing our position as leaders in legal professional advisory work to the SME market and always looking for exciting new opportunities, as we’re seeing with the huge increase in businesses transitioning to employee ownership.
Our latest appointment fully demonstrates our ability to attract top talent and the team has grown to such an extent this year that we’ve had to take additional space at our head office in Leeds city centre. I have known Lindsay and Manpreet for a number of years having worked with both previously and I know the strength they bring. Tessa also brings the knowledge of working in the public sector and this will add further expertise to the team. The team has also been shortlisted in the forthcoming Yorkshire Legal Awards later this year which, should we be lucky enough to win the award for the Company & Commercial team of the year, would be the perfect end to an outstanding year.”
Ison Harrison was founded in 1978. With an annual turnover of over £20 million, the firm has become a well-known regional practice offering the broadest range of legal services to thousands of people and businesses.
Ison Harrison currently holds 13 Law Society accreditations including Conveyancing Quality, Clinical Negligence, Children Law, Family Law, Immigration & Asylum, and SRA Higher Courts Rights – civil and criminal.
For more information, visit www.isonharrison.co.uk
