Two Hereford law firms will combine their strengths from the beginning of May, with Harrison Clark Rickerbys and Gordon Lutton Solicitors merging in direct response to the growing local demand for an increasing range of legal services for businesses and private individuals.
The move reunites Matt Hayes, Head of Harrison Clark Rickerbys’ Hereford office, with Colin Gordon, Gordon Lutton’s Managing Partner. Matt started his legal career with Gordon Lutton and worked closely with Colin for some years before moving.
The focused growth and drive comes from HCR’s Managing Partner Rod Thomas.
Rod said: “It has been apparent for some time that demand for legal services in the county is changing. As businesses grow, they need wider resources and greater expertise.
“As a UK Top 100 law firm right here in the area, we believe we are now uniquely placed to provide this.
“The whole firm is focused on delivering exceptional client service, but individual offices each have particular sector strengths and service offers which reflect the needs of local business.
“Successful mergers often come down to the personalities involved and I am confident that, with people like Matt Hayes and Ali Goodwin working once again with ex-colleagues from Gordon Lutton, we will see another successful outcome.”
Matt said: “My commitment to Hereford is longstanding and personal. From a firm perspective, the merger brings together strong business services teams, with particular corporate, commercial, litigation and property expertise, as well as well-established and respected family law and private client teams.
“Colin Gordon will have a significant presence within the merged firm; I very much welcome Colin and the attributes he and his team brings. The addition of the Gordon Lutton team will bring us to a total staff in Hereford of almost 60.”
Colin Gordon said: “The merger consolidates the significant presence of both firms within Herefordshire and beyond.
“We will continue to invest in Hereford and to support local growth. Our clients will benefit from a wider reach nationally and internationally.
“We all look forward to offering our clients the excellent service they have come to expect – both firms have a similar ethos and shared values, which includes an emphasis on client service and care.
“Following the merger, we will maintain a strong focus on delivering this particularly to our local clients. There are so many exciting opportunities of which to be a part.”
Since 1982, Gordon Lutton have been delivering first-class legal services to private individuals and businesses.
The team will bring strength and depth in children and family matters, residential conveyancing, wills and probate.
Clare Whittaker, Partner at Gordon Lutton, said: “We are very excited about this news and expect the wider resource we’ll all have to make it easier for us to continue to support the local clients we have, as closely as we always have.”
Matt emphasises how the range of services and expertise that will be provided are unparalleled in the local market and indeed match anything available across the region or in Birmingham, Cardiff or Bristol.
He explained: “There is so much activity in the region which we want to be a part of, both from a business and a community perspective.
“For example this year, for the first time, over 400 people interested in defence and security were brought together by Harrison Clark Rickerbys, creating a unique event at the Herefordshire Defence and Security Expo in February.
“The ongoing impact of relationships made at this event is resulting in the county’s expertise in defence being recognised at a national level.”
Individuals working for both firms give generous amounts of their time to charitable causes and regularly support events which form a significant part of the city’s annual calendar.
Harrison Clark Rickerbys has 420 staff and Partners based across offices in Hereford, the Wye Valley, Worcester, Cheltenham, Birmingham and the Thames Valley, who provide a complete spectrum of legal services to both business and private clients, regionally and nationwide.
The firm also has a number of highly successful teams specialising in individual market sectors, including health and social care, education, agricultural and rural affairs, defence, security and the forces, advanced manufacturing and construction.
Gordon Lutton Solicitors has been based in Hereford for over 30 years and have built a significant client base in Herefordshire, the surrounding counties and beyond.
In the last two years they have been developing a presence in Worcester with a new office in the vibrant Diglis Basin.
Their team of 15 lawyers and 15 support staff, based across the two offices, have a wealth of experience and provide advice in corporate and commercial, property, family, litigation, personal injury and private client matters.