Building back better - Punch Robson managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood and senior partner John Wilkin .
Rolling with the punches
Solicitors ride out the pandemic and look to the future
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The last year has been truly awful for so many people and has also been tough for us as a firm . But if there ’ s one thing it has underlined to me , it ’ s that where there are challenges , there are almost always opportunities ,” Elaine McLaine-Wood , managing partner of long-established Teesside solicitors Punch Robson , is reflecting on a year of Covid-19 behind us and the year ahead , when businesses will try to transform the words “ build back better ” from a handy slogan into an actual reality .
The firm she helps lead , alongside senior partner John Wilkin , has been a reassuring part of the fabric of the region ’ s business community for almost 150 years but has only survived so long because it has constantly adapted and modernised in the face of every challenge .
And the pandemic provides a textbook illustration of Punch Robson ’ s flexibility .
“ Covid-19 didn ’ t bring our business to a complete halt , as it did with the hospitality and travel industry , for example ,” says Elaine .
“ But it did have a major effect on certain parts of our business , which meant we had real challenges .”
Punch Robson is a full-service legal practice . In terms of business , services include commercial property , corporate and commercial , commercial disputes and business employment law .
Services to individuals include conveyancing , employment law , divorce
WORDS : GRAEME ANDERSON PICTURES : TOM BANKS
and family , mental health and capacity , wills and probate , and disputes .
“ It was clear from the start that while some areas of our business were going to remain busy , others would see their work dry up during the pandemic , and so we had to make the decision to furlough some members of staff ,” said Elaine .
“ At the same time – as has been the experience of many other businesses – the shutdown caused by the pandemic prompted some people to re-evaluate their lives and several decided to go in different directions .
“ These were the right decisions for the staff involved and we supported them through it – we were delighted for Graeme Downs in particular , who has been a partner for 20 years and finally
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