The voice of business in the Tees region | 45
Teamwork – (left to right) solicitor Hayley Bartram, managing
partner Elaine McLaine-Wood, head of the wills, probates and
trusts department Pat Mellish, associate solicitor Andrew Steel
and solicitor Helen Snell.
FIVE-STAR GROWTH
P
Leadership – Punch Robson
Solicitors managing partner
Elaine McLaine-Wood.
The team often go out to meet clients as
they recognise handling sensitive emotions
in a formal office environment is something
not everyone feels comfortable doing -
whether that be at home, in a care home or
even a business environment.
The department’s specialist expertise also
means client referrals can come from other
solicitors who might not have the same
depth of knowledge and experience.
And in terms of Punch Robson as a
business, the expansion has opened up
another natural avenue.
“As a firm we are always looking at group
strength,” adds Elaine.
“Expansion of the department
also means we can undertake more
business development work. We have
great relationships within the Teesside
community, which means we can develop
by offering advice on legal services and also
go on to invest more time in marketing.”
unch Robson’s growth strategy spans
its five departments.
As a business, the 142-year-old law
firm has invested in its people and 2019
has seen it create eight new positions as
well as two traineeships.
Managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood
says turnover at the business has seen an
upturn, client base has expanded and as a
result, the firm’s profile has been raised.
Punch Robson’s team now hope
to cement that growth and continue
providing expert services in very much the
same vein.
Expansion has been put down to
the quality of service on offer across
Punch Robson’s five departments:
company and commercial including
commercial property; litigation; residential
conveyancing; wills, probates and trusts
and family and mental health.
“Across our five departments we have
created new positions so it is very much
a story of growth and expansion,” says
Elaine.
“As a group our turnover has increased,
our client base has increased and our
profile has increased. Now it is very much
about cementing that and to keep on
doing what we are doing.
“Not one of our departments outweighs
another, we are all very much equal and
each shares in the ethos of the firm and
what we do.”
Being able to consistently bring the
highest standards of legal services to
both businesses and families is key to the
expansion. As is recruiting the right people
for the right job and offering an expert
guiding hand to newly qualified legal staff
who have chosen to stay with the firm.
Punch Robson also has a supportive
presence on Teesside which Elaine thinks
is incredibly important when it comes to
giving something back to the community
the firm serves.
Charities including the MFC Foundation,
Butterwick Hospice and autism charity
Daisy Chain are all beneficiaries in terms
of the firm’s time and financial support.
“Supporting local causes is very
important to us,” says Elaine.
“As a firm we very much want to try
and give a bit back both financially and in
terms of time where we can to the people
of the Tees Valley.”
The firm also works closely with
Teesside University to take in students
and offer work experience placements
during the summer.
“The key is trying to retain that
excellence we have on Teesside within
Teesside,” says Elaine.
The guiding hand doesn’t stop there
though. For the second year running,
Punch Robson will also sponsor a category
at this year’s Tees Businesswomen
Awards, organised by Tees Business
magazine, and is supporting the brand
new Tees Tech Awards, also organised by
the publication.
“It is important to recognise women in
business because it is about merit,” adds
Elaine.
“We work with a number of clients in
the tech sector and the new awards are a
fantastic way to recognise Teesside talent
in an area that is growing and one that
those in it don’t necessarily shout about
for themselves.”
For more information, call 01642 754050 or visit punchrobson.co.uk