“A key driver is our commitment to speaking to people and building relationships.”
“Our structure means colleagues have sufficient time to pick up the phone to a client, which is very relevant in today’s world.”
“They might not be able to solve a problem immediately, but they are speaking to a client, rather than simply sending an email,” says Kenton, who oversees operations across Knights’ Newcastle, Stockton-on-Tees and York bases within a wider 32-strong national office network.
He adds: “But our culture benefits our colleagues too.”
“A traditional model can sometimes foster a feeling among teams that they don’t have time to interact with colleagues because they’ve got targets to hit.”
“However, because our approach is completely different, they have much more time to collaborate.”
“Furthermore, when we recruit a team member, we often then take on their friend or colleague because of the environment we’ve created,” says Kenton, who spent his formative years in Northamptonshire before moving to the North East in 2008 after attending law school in York.
The ethos is borne out in no little evidence.
A significant number of staff list time at regional forerunners St James’ Square and Archers Law – the Newcastle and Stockton-on-Tees-based firms acquired by Knights in recent years.
Where attrition could have been high following such deals, Kenton says Knights’ culture instead helped retain colleagues who continue, alongside later additions, to drive the firm forward.
And with their experience of the region’s commercial and geographical nuances, he says Knights – which is headline partner of The NET 250, N magazine publisher NET’s sought-after list of the region’s top 250 businesses by turnover – has great scope to further bolster its market presence.
Kenton says: “Both offices are different, and both are growing.”
“The Newcastle office sits in a large conurbation, which offers huge potential for growth, and by being located in Bank House, it is right in the middle of the regeneration of the city.”
“Teesside is another strong office.”
“Owing to the different specialisms we provide, there aren’t many law firms in the south of the region that can do what we do.”
He adds: “A lot of people in the Newcastle and Stockton-on-Tees offices have worked there for years – and that is a major factor in the quality and depth of service we provide.”
“Those colleagues know the region and have the local clients and relationships.”
“Nothing has changed other than the name above the door.”
“We’re still the same people; we just do things in a different way.”
Knights
Knights was founded more than 250 years ago in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Over the last decade, it has grown to become the largest legal and professional services business focused on providing great service in every region of the country.
Knights’ expert services cover areas including banking, business tax, corporate, commercial, employment, real estate and residential property.
It also supports sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, industry and technology.
The firm operates from more than 30 offices across the UK.
Its footprint was boosted last year by the acquisition of South East-based IBB Law LLP alongside the opening of a Cardiff office.
It also completed deals for Essex’s Birkett Long and Kent and Sussex-based Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP.
To learn more about Knights, its services and the sectors it supports, visit the website at the top of this article or call 0344 371 2562.