Lawyers deliver a vote of confidence (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lawyers deliver a vote of confidence

10:10am Friday 16th October 2009 in

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A senior lawyer whose firm has opened a new office in Bradford has questioned why other legal businesses quit the city.

Tim Harris, senior partner at Morrish Solicitors, one of Yorkshire’s oldest law firms which has opened an office on Broadway, said the move was a vote of confidence in Bradford.

He said: “I cannot understand why so many other law firms have moved out of Bradford and into Leeds. We are very keen to reverse that trend.

“Bradford has a vibrant community and all people need legal services at some point. Why should they have to go to Leeds for quality legal advice?

“We have acted for many Bradford residents in the past, through our work with trade unions and private clients. “Opening a new office here, closer to them, made perfect sense. Bradford has a very bright future and Morrish Solicitors is happy to be a part of it.”

Morrish was established in 1882 and has offices in Leeds city centre, Yeadon and Pudsey. The new office specialises in clinical negligence and has the legal aid franchise for Bradford. This work is led by Jane McBennett, with more than 25 years’ experience in the field.

Baldeep Thiara, originally from Bradford, is the firm’s employment rights specialist with a record of defending employees’ rights.

Bradford-born partner Duncan Gardiner, handles professional negligence work. The Bradford office also offers a free legal advice clinic on the last Tuesday of each month between 5.30 and 8pm. Bradford’s three MPs have been invited to attend the official launch of the new office next month.

Meanwhile, Gordons, which has offices in Bradford and Leeds, has reported turnover up by 21 per cent to £21.7 million for the last financial year, making it the seventh successive year that the firm has recorded a year-on-year increase in revenue.

Managing partner Paul Ayre said: “The 12 months to March 2009 were very difficult for the legal sector as a whole, so we are proud to have achieved growth despite the challenges we were faced with.”