Private Client Solicitors has revealed that a surge in casework has led to its staff numbers almost doubling in the course of the last year.
Despite only opening its doors at the start of 2022, the boutique firm has quickly become one of the country’s leading specialists, advising some of the UK’s most high-profile business owners and wealthiest individuals alike.
The arrivals of Associate Solicitor Jaima Mistry and Office Manager Atola Tamika-Fearon have taken the number of Private Client Solicitors’ employees from 17 to 32.
Managing Partner Tasnim Khalid has described how the extra personnel have made an immediate impact, helped by a “significant investment’ in technology to support the rising caseload.
She added, however, that the firm was determined to develop its own legal talent and not just make further progress due to external recruits.
“The last year has been truly remarkable, not just in terms of growth but the degree to which our good reputation has extended across the UK and overseas.
“That has meant clients seeking us out for assistance to deal with some of the most sensitive issues they’re ever likely to encounter, such as estate planning, contentious probate or business succession.
“A further benefit, though, has been the fact that some of our legal peers at other firms recognise the quality of our work and want to join what is a very accomplished, vibrant team.
“We have not lost sight, however, of our desire to also help young lawyers develop their careers in keeping with the very high standards that we have set. Getting that balance right is an essential part of our future plans.
“Despite still being a relatively young firm, we have seen clear benefits of our decision to focus on really sharp and ambitious individuals already paying off, giving us real strength in depth at all levels.”
Ms Khalid said that the “strategic” appointments made over the last year had enabled Private Client Solicitors to achieve its early objectives even faster than anticipated.
As well as Ms Khalid and her fellow partners, Paul Gotch and Nicola Walker, the firm has been able to attract a number of notable fee-earners, including Senior Associate Lucy Fairey and Associates Naomi Isherwood, Michelle Tonge and Jaima Mistry.
The recruitment of Mrs Tamika-Fearon – who brings many years of experience in the legal and financial services industries – adds to a burgeoning support staff which already boasts Client Relationship Director Ryan Lewis.
Its ranks include Melissa Copple, who was awarded Private Client Solicitor’s first training contract and Charlie Caine, the firm’s Junior Solicitor Apprentice.
Much of its workload is made up of complex probate work, business succession and estate planning but it has also quickly become recognised as the North West’s foremost authority on sharia-related private client law.
Even though its client list features many of the region’s wealthiest individuals and most notable entrepreneurs, its recent cases have extended across several different jurisdictions, including Spain, Hong Kong, the Middle East and North America.
Along with growth in its fee income and staff roster, Private Client Solicitors has cemented its place among the UK’s top practitioners over the last year.
Just weeks before being commended as one of the country’s best 250 law firms by The Times, the Legal 500 rankings identified it as boasting “leading advisers”.
As well as her legal capabilities, Legal 500 said that Ms Khalid was the “powerhouse behind this business and….an exceptional businesswoman”.
That followed Private Client Solicitors being placed in the top tier of Band One of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide for the second successive year.
Ms Khalid was among a handful of experts to achieve Chambers’ Band One status, while Mr Gotch and Ms Walker made up half of the lawyers in Band Three for Manchester and the surrounding area.
Chambers concluded that Private Client Solicitors’ service was “second to none” and has “a particular ability to handle diverse issues across the team on Shari’a law and international assets and estates”, with no client being “too big or too small”.
Ms Khalid was also named among a “new generation” of 100 female entrepreneurs listed by the Daily Telegraph and NatWest.
She has that Private Client Solicitors has undergone an acceleration of casework and staff numbers, with both more than doubling over the course of the last 12 months.