Wakefield Solicitors Agree Family Law Deal

5th October 2007

Wakefield Solicitors Switalski's, of Wakefield, has agreed a deal to acquire Chadwick Lawrence solicitors’ family legal aid practice.

The deal is part of a strategy by Chadwick Lawrence to expand its private and commercial client base.
 
Jeremy Garside, Managing Partner of Chadwick Lawrence, said:
 
“Over a period of time legal aid has become increasingly bogged down with red tape and in real terms fees have gone down, making it difficult to provide the right level of service.
 
"Moving away from legal aid will allow us to focus on expanding our private and commercial work.”
 
Switalski’s, whose main office is in Cheapside, Wakefield, are one of the top 10 firms in the country for doing publicly funded civil legal aid work. It has ambitions to move into the top five.
 
The firm’s Practice Director John Durkan said:
 
“We are a large practice and specialise in a wide range of areas of law, but we are keen to extend our geographical reach and in terms of the number of lawyers within the firm.
 
“This is why the deal with Chadwick Lawrence is a great opportunity for us and we hope their former staff and legal aid clients will quickly see the quality of our work.”
 
Chadwick Lawrence partner Cathie Dews, who leads the firm’s family department confirmed that it will continue to provide a dedicated family service to its private clients and ensure that anyone requiring legal aid would be signposted to Switalski’s.