Law firm pricing, costs and funding specialist Burcher Jennings is expanding its Manchester team today with the addition of expert costs lawyer Mathew Bell and a move to new premises in Wilmslow.
Nationally, the firm now has the largest concentration of costs lawyers in the country. The announcement comes on the day new research from the legal sector regulator the Legal Services Board revealed a rise in “DIY justice” as concerns and a lack of clarity over law firm costs is increasingly driving clients away from high street law firms.
Burcher Jennings opened its Manchester operation in January 2016, and is already expanding to meet demand from North of England law firms for the kind of holistic approach to pricing, costs and funding that can both improve certainty over legal pricing and service for clients, and boost long-term profitability for law firms.
Experienced costs lawyer Mathew combines experience in commercial litigation, clinical negligence, catastrophic injury, Court of Protection and solicitor & own client disputes, together with costs management and negotiations.
The Manchester office has grown swiftly as a result of the head of the Manchester team Victoria Morrison-Hughes’ broad range of experience, having worked exclusively in a city centre legal practice, in addition to 18 years providing specialist support on legal costs to a wide range of law firms in the North West and across the country.
Mathew adds further to this unique combination of insight into the operational and technical demands of a legal business.
Victoria Morrison-Hughes, head of the Manchester office and winner of ‘Costs Lawyer of the Year’ in the 2016 Women in Law Awards, said:
“With an ever growing team there is a great deal we can contribute to the practice and potential of local law firms in the Manchester area. Burcher Jennings is an innovative force in helping firms transform costs, pricing and funding practices in order to boost profitability and achieve a competitive edge.”
Martyn Jennings, CEO of Burcher Jennings, added:
“We are proud to see this regional centre of excellence expand to meet demand and are looking forward to Mathew enhancing the team.
“As a national firm we are growing swiftly but the focus on consistently providing insightful and high quality advice and services on issues, such as maximising costs recovery and positive, profitable pricing, is fundamental to every new region we venture into.
“We look forward to continued growth over the next 12 months, in Manchester and beyond.”