Lucky seven as Newtons buys law firm in heart of the Dales

Newtons Solicitors Group, Knaresborough, led by Chris Newton and his wife Sarah, has bought private client law firm, Geoffrey Mochrie Solicitors, Leyburn, which was founded in 1978.

Geoffrey Mochrie Solicitors, which has two partners, Geoffrey Mochrie and Ms Frances Maxwell, also has three support staff.

The £300,000 turnover practice provides services including wills, lasting powers of attorney and court of protection, family law and residential property conveyancing.

As part of the deal, Mr Mochrie and Ms Maxwell will continue to be based in Leyburn. Ms Maxwell will become a director of Newtons Solicitors Group which also has offices in Harrogate, Ripon, York as well as in Darlington and Richmond following the acquisition of Hodgsons & Mortimer Solicitors earlier this year.

The latest acquisition will take Newtons Solicitors Group’s turnover past £2.5m in annual fee income, half way towards its medium term-goal of reaching a £5m turnover.

The value of the deal was undisclosed. Newtons Solicitors Group now has eight directors, six partners, as well as 42 additional staff.

Managing director Chris Newton said: “This latest acquisition gives us a great foothold to expand into the Dales. Local reaction is very positive and we hope to use the Leyburn presence to attract more local commercial and agricultural work to our group.

“The practice is already introducing new clients to Newtons Solicitors Group for legal services which they could not previously access, including litigation and commercial law.

“It is great to have such an experienced, locally respected law firm as part of our group. We are now looking to expand further and are in talks with three other law firms across the region.”