24 October 2023
Dutton Gregory Solicitors Experiences 50% Growth in Surrey After Merger with Local Law Firm
National law firm Dutton Gregory has experienced a 50% uplift in Surrey instructions since its April 2023 merger with Woking-based law firm Mackrell Turner Garrett. The Hampshire-headquartered full-service law firm is actively looking to further broaden its network of offices across the UK.
Established nearly 70 years ago, Dutton Gregory employs over 130 staff across the South Coast Region and has recently opened a Northern Office in the city of Liverpool. Specialist practitioners provide clients with tailored legal solutions, including commercial and residential property matters and transactions, life planning and family law. The residential property team has doubled to 50 in the past 18 months, while the commercial property team has grown by 50%.
Dutton Gregory now has 25 legal professionals based in Surrey with a strong focus on residential and commercial property. The law firm’s quick success in the region is attributed to its physical presence and face to face approach with clients, as opposed to working remotely, which is how many other law firms operate in the area. Turnover for the property team during the current financial year is projected to be over £4m.
Paul Sams, Head of Property at Dutton Gregory Solicitors, said: “We are increasingly finding that our clients don’t just want clicks, they want bricks. Clients would far rather come into a local office and meet in person rather than on a call. Building up a trusted rapport also gives confidence and knowledge of the other services we offer. As a result, we are outperforming our rivals and gaining significant market share.
“We also recognise that a proportion of clients want their interactions to take place at a time convenient to them. Flexibility toward this is paramount and investment in systems and staff has facilitated Dutton Gregory’s ability to deliver that. The recently amalgamated Woking team adds years of local experience, handling several high value transactions in Surrey and beyond. This expansion has also been a key driver in bolstering our commercial property offering across the south. The new team members have fitted in seamlessly, sharing the cultural values that radiate throughout this modern firm.”
The variety of clients which the residential and commercial team carries out work includes housing developers both boutique and national, several Housing Associations, as well as private homeowners and buy-to-let landlords. Residential specialisms include sales/purchases, freehold and leasehold, remortgaging and equity release, transfers of equity, lease extensions, buy to let, and shared ownership. While the commercial team have extensive experience handling transactions on all types of commercial buildings and land including offices, retail, leisure, licensed premises and agricultural.
Derek Austin, Commercial Property Partner at the Dutton Gregory Woking office, said: “Since the merger we are pleased to have seen both continuous growth for the firm and specifically for our commercial property team. We have an increased presence across the South thanks to combining the teams in Surrey, with colleagues in Chandlers Ford and Bournemouth, all dealing with transactional and contentious commercial property work. Due to our increased growth, we are looking forward to welcoming new colleagues across our offices and recruiting more excellent commercial property lawyers to the team. If anyone in the commercial property law sector is seeking a new opportunity, we would encourage them to get in contact.”
Focusing on continuous improvement, Dutton Gregory has adopted a progressive approach towards technology, giving clients the option to receive updates and provide information in a digital format through Perfect Portal and InfoTrack functionality.
Hampshire-headquartered Dutton Gregory Solicitors is a full-service legal firm for private and corporate clients. The multi-award-winning practice has offices in Bournemouth, Chandler’s Ford, Poole, Liverpool, London, Winchester, and Woking.
